the vast expanse of cloudland; hill and dale, mountain and
valley springing into existence responsive to his rays and steadily
developing in beauty and individuality. One huge mountain-cone of cloud,
corresponding to Mount Shasta in these newborn cloud ranges, rose close
alongside with a visible motion, its firm, polished bosses seeming so
near and substantial that we almost fancied that we might leap down upon
them from where we stood and make our way to the lowlands. No hint was
given, by anything in their appearance, of the fleeting character of
these most sublime and beautiful cloud mountains. On the contrary they
impressed one as being lasting additions to the landscape.

The weather of the springtime and summer, throughout the Sierra in
general, is usually varied by slight local rains and dustings of
snow, most of which are obviously far too joyous and life-giving to be
regarded as storms--single clouds growing in the sunny sky, ripening
in an hour, showering the heated landscape, and passing away like a
thought, leaving no visible bodily remains to stain the sky. Snowstorms
of the same gentle kind abound among the high peaks, but in spring they
not unfrequently attain larger proportions, assuming a violence and
energy of expression scarcely surpassed by those bred in the depths of
winter. Such was the storm now gathering about us.

It began to declare itself shortly after noon, suggesting to us the
idea of at once seeking our safe camp in the timber and abandoning the
purpose of making an observation of the barometer at 3 p.m.,--two having
already been made, at 9 a.m., and 12 m., while simultaneous observations
were made at Strawberry Valley. Jerome peered at short intervals over
the ridge, contemplating the rising clouds with anxious gestures in
the rough wind, and at length declared that if we did not make a speedy
escape we should be compelled to pass the rest of the day and night
on the summit. But anxiety to complete my observations stifled my
own instinctive promptings to retreat, and held me to my work. No
inexperienced person was depending on me, and I told Jerome that we
two mountaineers should be able to make our way down through any storm
likely to fall.

Presently thin, fibrous films of cloud began to blow directly over the
summit from north to south, drawn out in long fairy webs like carded
wool, forming and dissolving as if by magic. The wind twisted them into
ringlets and whirled them in a succes