146 



RECREATION 



moth flatters on the green pool, only 

 to be captured by the sportive trout. 



A smoothly patted sand bank shows 

 where the otter has wallowed, and 

 further down is the home of the cheer- 

 ful water ouzel. What is that slate- 

 colored bird, bobbing up and down, er- 

 ratically imitating a lunatic, a singer? 

 He cares not, sultry summer and bleak 

 winter are alike to him, and he sings 

 his merry song of but few notes in 

 presence of the elements, and glories in 

 the midst of rushing, turbulent water 

 where the spray dashes over him. 



The hunter and shy panther, shaggy 

 bear or eager mink, may watch this 

 happy little companion of the moun- 

 tain stream, yet he goes merrily on his 

 way, heedless of friend or foe. 



The long shimmering strands of 

 golden illusive light reach down 

 through the great masses of firs and 

 cedars, and are finally lost amid the 

 lacework of vine maples and winding 

 vines, with now and then a lingering- 

 orange tint reflected from the noisy 

 cataract. 



Here in Nature's sanctum the ozone 

 from the balsamic forest fills the lungs 

 with a new lease of life, and the slug- 

 gish blood rages through the body with 

 a reviving thrill that makes the man 

 feel like a boy once more, and he for- 

 gets the weary travel over mountain 

 heights to reach this citadel in the 

 wilds, surrounded with its health-re- 

 storing agencies — the heritage of every 

 man that shall strive for its exhilarat- 

 ing influences. 



Signs of animal life were in evidence 

 everywhere. A tree with cat-like 

 scratching on the side told of a panther 

 that had sharpened his claws there, 

 while hurriedly made tracks with toes 

 distended, long bounds between each, 

 indicated that a startled deer had seen 

 or scented the intruder. And along the 

 sand banks the tracks of this fastidious 

 cat denoted his playful mood. In some 

 places he had wallowed in the sand, 

 while in other places the long distance 

 between tracks indicated that he might 



have been leaping at a passing bird, or, 

 perhaps, jumping at some imaginary 

 victim. 



Not far away we found the carcass 

 of a deer covered over with twigs and 

 leaves, and the signs of the panther led 

 us to believe that the playful cat had 

 killed it. The hounds worked faith- 

 fully on the old scent, but were un- 

 able to follow it up. However, the 

 next day the dogs found fresher signs, 

 which resulted in bringing the cougar 

 to bay and my brother killed him. Later 

 in the day a large black bear was 

 started and he led us a hard chase. We 

 were unable to overtake him, although 

 he was brought to bay many times, but 

 when we got near enough for him to 

 hear us he would move on. The big 

 bear outdistanced us, and the baying 

 of the hounds could not be heard, so we 

 were foiled. 



The chase was soon forgotten, for 

 the grand old mountains all around us, 

 replete with nature's wonders, awe-in- 

 spiring as they were, attracted our at- 

 tention, and held us in a fascinating 

 embrace, while ever-changing shadows, 

 colors and scenery blended in one con- 

 tinuous stretch of beauty that brings 

 one in closer communion with " Na- 

 ture's visible forms" and "Peace that 

 passeth understanding." 



From the ridge we looked across the 

 canon, where the irregular contours 

 of the mountains spread out like a 

 half-opened fan apparently leaning 

 against the sky line. 



The exhaustless charms of the quiet, 

 dark green wilderness, with its deep 

 canons filled with blue-black shadows, 

 and the gray crags, covered with 

 mosses and creeping vines, with here 

 and there a fringe of ragged trees, 

 makes one feel insignificant in Na- 

 ture's kingdom. 



One follows along a rim under the 

 bluff, hugging the rock walls, almost 

 afraid to look down into the dizzy 

 depths below him ; but in a short time 

 the sense of danger gives way to the 

 sense of the beautiful. One stands 



