Down North and Up Along 
maples and birches frequently appearing. We 
skirted a valley that once had been a water- 
course ; a torrent had swept down it and left 
behind a plain story of its existence. Out of 
the middle of the valley rose an island, tree- 
covered and with precipitous cliffs of white 
gypsum, worn into queer-shaped towers and 
buttresses. Over our road also loomed ghostly 
and threatening forms of gypsum, under which 
we were half afraid to pass, they looked so 
ready to topple on our heads. And then we 
came fairly upon the charming valley of Aspy 
Bay. It was like joy after sorrow to come 
out of the sombre fir-filled wilderness into this 
blooming valley, through which flowed a broad 
and beautiful river. There were elm-trees 
singly, and in groups, with the sun behind 
them shining out of a misty atmosphere that 
made the trees look half unreal, as though 
they were a product of the light. 
Mountains rose from across the valley in 
beautiful slopes, clad to the summit with trees, 
excepting where here and there a bare flank 
swept up covered only with low, bright-leaved 
shrubs. They were mountains with purple 
shadows in their hollows, their slopes blue and 
276 
