take charge of the fire. This was the only fire of the world. As
time passed on Loowit observed the deplorable condition of the
Indians, destitute of fire and the conveniences which it might
bring. She therefore besought Sahale to allow her to bestow fire
upon the Indians. Sahale, greatly pleased by the faithfulness and
benevolence of Loowit, finally granted her request. The lot of the
Indians was wonderfully improved by the acquisition of fire. They
began to make better lodges and clothes and had a variety of food
and implements, and, in short, were marvellously benefitted by the
bounteous gift.

But Sahale, in order to show his appreciation of the care with which
Loowit had guarded the sacred fire, now determined to offer her any gift
she might desire as a reward. Accordingly, in response to his offer,
Loowit asked that she be transformed into a young and beautiful girl.
This was accordingly effected, and now, as might have been expected, all
the Indian chiefs fell deeply in love with the guardian of tamanous
bridge. Loowit paid little heed to any of them, until finally there came
two chiefs, one from the north called Klickitat and one from the south
called Wiyeast. Loowit was uncertain which of these two she most
desired, and as a result a bitter strife arose between the two. This
waxed hotter and hotter, until, with their respective warriors, they
entered upon a desperate war. The land was ravaged, until all their new
comforts were marred, and misery and wretchedness ensued. Sahale
repented that he had allowed Loowit to bestow fire upon the Indians, and
determined to undo all his work in so far as he could. Accordingly he
broke down the tamanous bridge, which dammed up the river with an
impassable reef, and put to death Loowit, Klickitat, and Wiyeast. But,
inasmuch as they had been noble and beautiful in life, he determined to
give them a fitting commemoration after death. Therefore he reared over
them as monuments the great snow peaks; over Loowit, what we now call
Mt. St. Helen's; over Wiyeast, the modern Mt. Hood; and, above
Klickitat, the great dome which now we call Mt. Adams.

[Illustration: The Pacific

Copyright 1910 by Kiser Photo Co., Portland, Ore.]

[Illustration: Along the Columbia--"Grotesque rocks rise sheer from the
river's edge"

Copyright 1910 by Kiser Photo Co., Portland. Ore.]

Up through timbered hillsides, from green fields, from the verdure