A Midwinter Trip. 



259 



of the overhanging shore. The only evidence of winter 

 was the distant snow and the film of ice formed by the 

 spray upon the boat. Otherwise it might have been a 

 summer evening, except that the gulls had left their rook- 

 ery on the western shore of the point. 



Next morning the flying Meteor, snow laden, bore the 

 Californian away on a voyage round the lake. He planned 

 to catch a possible train from Tahoe City. The botanist 

 and the enthusiast tramped over Mt. Pluto to Truckee. 

 In the evening the Californian met these two again, just 

 as the train came to speed them to their homes. He had 

 walked from the lake to Truckee, and that in a pair of 

 thin leather shoes. Gritty son of vigorous Russian sires, 

 he had thrived on his hardships and grown more enthu- 

 siastic with the days. 



"All was good," called he as the train drew out, "even 

 coming down that canon." And the botanist added, "We 

 paid cheaply for the sights we saw." 



