erwoven mass of
tangled "dead wood" silently proclaimed the terrible devastation of the
devouring mountain fire.

As the first view of the Park greeted the travelers, a merry shout rent
the air, the coach pulled up at the side of the toll road and everybody
alighted to "stretch," get out still heavier wraps, and make ready for
the remaining four hours' ride. Hazel had exhausted her supply of
English suitable for the occasion, while Jack and Chiquita enjoyed the
attempts of Miss Asquith to do the subject justice in "shop" words.

Even the heavier wraps were none too warm as the coach reached the foot
of the last incline and rolled easily over the hard, gritty, well kept
turnpike. The meadow stretched before them, the Big Thompson easily
distinguished in its center and the unbroken line of mountains walling
up to the sky, shut them out from the noisy world which lay just beyond
Long's Peak, whose snow-white night cap was then a mass of burnished
copper from the last rays of the setting sun.

"Oh, Jack, how supremely grand," was all Hazel ventured.

"It is just lovely," murmured Miss Asquith.

The great triangle sent forth its warning that dinner was waiting, and
reluctantly they entered the house where the warmth of a little wood
fire took the chill off the crisp air.

"Think of it, 90 degrees in Chicago yesterday, today a fire to warm the
house!" exclaimed Hazel.

"It is just lovely," said Miss Asquith.

"Dinner," shouted a white-aproned darky.

A great platter of deliciously browned brook trout stood appetizingly in
the center of a round table, and the four chairs were immediately
occupied by four hungry people, who waived all ceremony, as well as the
every day stereotyped roast beef, making trout the Alpha and Omega of
their first Estes Park repast.

The sight-seeing was begun at daybreak, Jack routing out his party in
order to see the sunrise and the dissolving mists which hung low on the
mountain sides as they disappeared beneath the warming influence of old
Sol. An early breakfast was followed by unpacking of trunks, arranging
of fishing tackle, cameras, hammocks and paraphernalia which they
disposed of in and about the four-room cottage near the main hostelry.
Great elk and deer antlers decorated buildings all about them and the
emblem of occupancy was the fly rod standing in some convenient corner.
Saddle horses, phaetons and four-seated spring wagons were standing
about, chartered for the day's outing