nger every hour, no matter where we are. I
hope nothing will befall Fred or me."

And standing alone in the midst of that wild, rugged scene, he silently
lifted his heart to the only One who could protect and save them from
the hundreds of perils that beset them.

His eye was fixed on the stupendous mountain beyond the plateau, at
whose base wound the canyon, when he observed a growing light on its
crest. The twinkling stars beyond grew dimmer, and the white blanket of
snow that had lain there for centuries rapidly came out in bolder
relief, until it sparkled and gleamed much as he had seen it do when the
sun was shining. Then a curved yellow rim emerged from behind the
mountain, its climbing of the sky so rapid that the progress was readily
noted. In a brief while the whole form of the round full moon appeared
clear of the peak, and its silvery rays began filling the gorges and
chasms below.

The scene was picturesque and beautiful beyond description. As the moon
climbed higher, the lower peaks, one after the other, leaped into view,
while the hollows between became blacker and more awesome from contrast.
Most of these were so deep that the illumination made them appear
stronger by the contrast. As the orb ascended it seemed to shrink in
size and to climb more slowly; but the shifting of the wonderful
panorama, progressing as it did in complete silence, was impressive to
the last degree.

It was as if the angels of the sky were noiselessly casting their fleecy
veils of light over and into the awful depths below, and driving away
the crouching monster of blackness that was thus roused from his slumber
and forced to flee. Grand as was the scene, it was soothing in its
effect upon the awed lad, who, leaning against the rock behind him, the
stock of his rifle resting at his feet, surveyed it all with feelings
that drew him nearer to heaven, and gave him a more vivid knowledge of
the greatness and majesty of the Author of all that he saw and felt.

Standing thus, with his emotions stirred to their profoundest depths,
Jack Dudley took no note of the passage of time. Midnight came and
passed, and still he held his post, wondering, admiring and worshipping,
as must puny man when brought face to face with such exhibitions of
Omnipotence.

It was an unromantic ending to this experience that, forgetful of the
consequences of what he did, he finally became sensible of the
irksomeness of his standing position, and sat down,