The Second King's River Outing. 103 



occupation save the cluster of blackened stones that here 

 and there marks the site of a wanderer's camp. From 

 end to end the river runs between wooded banks, now 

 flowing dark and somber under the shadow of pines, now 

 radiant and glimmering in the green diffused light under 

 the twinkling aspens. It is such a happy river. It seems 

 to have caught all the merriment and the exultation of the 

 score of waterfalls that tumble down from the high 

 country to join it. Nor is the more austere beauty of 

 cliff sculpture wanting — massive creviced walls where 

 the blue shadows linger till midday. 



Although disappointed in the fish we expected to catch, 

 we found our little shelter among the pines a delightful 

 camping-place, and were only sorry that we were not 

 prepared for a longer stay. We spent the morning in a 

 leisurely walk to the head of the valley, where four of 

 us, separated from the others for the moment, had the 

 good fortune to start a deer. 



Leaving Paradise in the afternoon, we had a most 

 impressive view of a storm gathering on the high moun- 

 tains which encircle the valley and which come into 

 sight as one climbs the zigzig trail up the western wall, — 

 Pyramid and Arrow peaks to the north ; eastward, rising 

 directly above the gulf of the valley, Mt. King and Mt. 

 Gardiner, sharp gray peaks streaked with snow; and to 

 the south and southeast. Brewer and the numberless 

 peaks of the summit crest. Over all this long jagged 

 chain the shifting clouds were scattering now sunlight, 

 now shadow, veiling mountain-tops in ghostly mist gar- 

 ments and sending little flickering sprites of sunbeams 

 dancing up and down the cafion walls. Our camp that 

 night, high among the tamaracks, near Goat Mountain, 

 overlooked the same wide stretch of mountain land; and 

 there in the intervals of homely camp toil, the making of 

 fires, the cooking of food, and the washing of dishes 

 (oh, blessed enchantment of mountain days!), we could 

 watch the marvelous change from alpenglow to twilight 

 with never a thought of incongruity to mar its wonder. 



