thick that we could not see beyond
them. But, from glimpses here and there, and from the purity and
lightness of the air, I judged that we were on far higher ground
than any we had yet traversed, the central comb, perhaps, of the
mountain-system.

A few yards ahead of us, through the crowded trunks of the dwarf forest,
I saw a gray mass, like the wall of a fortress, across our path. It was
a vast rock, rising from the crest of the ridge, lifting its top above
the sea of foliage. At its base there were heaps of shattered stones,
and deep crevices almost like caves. One side of the rock was broken by
a slanting gully.

"Be careful," cried my companion, "there is a rattlers' den somewhere
about here. The snakes are in their winter quarters now, almost dormant,
but they can still strike if you tread on them. Step here! Give me
your hand--use that point of rock--hold fast by this bush; it is firmly
rooted--so! Here we are on Spy Rock! You have heard of it? I thought so.
Other people have heard of it, and imagine that they have found it--five
miles east of us--on a lower ridge. Others think it is a peak just back
of Cro' Nest. All wrong! There is but one real Spy Rock--here! This
earth holds no more perfect view-point. It is one of the rare places
from which a man may see the kingdoms of the world and all the glory of
them. Look!"

The prospect was indeed magnificent; it was strange what a vast
enlargement of vision resulted from the slight elevation above the
surrounding peaks. It was like being lifted up so that we could
look over the walls. The horizon expanded as if by magic. The vast
circumference of vision swept around us with a radius of a hundred
miles. Mountain and meadow, forest and field, river and lake, hill and
dale, village and farmland, far-off city and shimmering water--all lay
open to our sight, and over all the westering sun wove a transparent
robe of gem-like hues. Every feature of the landscape seemed alive,
quivering, pulsating with conscious beauty. You could almost see the
world breathe.

"Wonderful!" I cried. "Most wonderful! You have found a mount of
vision."

"Ah," he answered, "you don't half see the wonder yet, you don't begin
to appreciate it. Your eyes are new to it. You have not learned the
power of far sight, the secret of Spy Rock. You are still shut in by the
horizon."

"Do you mean to say that you can look beyond it?"

"Beyond yours--yes. And beyond any that you would dream possib