Only a
soldier could have found dry wood and a place for making coffee that
night.
When it is at all wet Faye always has our tents "ditched," that is,
the sod turned up on the canvas all around the bottom. So just before
dark I asked Captain Spencer if the men could not do that to our tent,
and it was done without delay. It made a great difference in our
comfort, for at once the incoming of the water was stopped. We all
retired early that night, and notwithstanding our hunger, and the wet
below and above us, our sleep was sound. In the morning we found
several inches of snow on the ground and the whole country was white.
The snow was so moist and clinging, that the small branches of trees
were bent down with its weight, and the effect of the pure white on
the brilliant greens was enchanting. Over all was the glorious
sunshine that made the whole grand scene glisten and sparkle like
fairyland. And that day was the twenty-sixth of August!
It was wretchedly cold, and our heaviest wraps seemed thin and light.
Lottie gave us a nice hot breakfast, and after that things looked much
more cheerful. By noon most of the snow had disappeared, and after an
early luncheon we came on to these dry, piney woods, that claim an
elevation of nine thousand feet. The rarefied air affects people so
differently. Some breathe laboriously and have great difficulty in
walking at all, while to others it is most exhilarating, and gives
them strength to walk great distances.
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