FIELD-DAYS IN CALIFORNIA 



pose they are to most men's, hardly a whit less 

 astounding than the Horseshoe Fall itself. 



This wild outward leap it was that most of all 

 impressed me when more than once I stood at 

 the top of the Yosemite Fall, amazed and silent. 

 But that was some time later than the day now 

 spoken of, and must be left for mention in its 

 turn. 



I had heard before coming to the Valley, and 

 many times since, that the one place excelling 

 all others — of those, that is to say, immediately 

 above the Valley wall, and so falling within the 

 range of ordinary pedestrians and horseback rid- 

 ers — was Glacier Point ; and now, having given 

 my legs and wind a pretty good preliminary test, 

 I inquired of the camp-manager how difficult the 

 trail to that point might be, as compared with 

 the one I had just gone over. 



" I should call it twice as difficult," he said, 

 "though not so long." 



The answer surprised, and for the moment al- 

 most disheartened me. Age was never so inop- 

 portune, I thought. 



" But anyhow," said I, "there is no law against 

 my having a look at the beginning of the way 

 and judging of its possibilities for myself." 



And the very next morning, being apparently 

 in good bodily trim, and certainly in good spirits, 

 180 



