into the
right-hand trail. Walking and trotting, he traveled all afternoon,
toward sunset getting into heavy forest of pine. More than one snow
bank showed white through the green, sheltered on the north slopes of
shady ravines. And it was upon entering this zone of richer, deeper
forestland that Jean sloughed off his gloomy forebodings. These
stately pines were not the giant firs of Oregon, but any lover of the
woods could be happy under them. Higher still he climbed until the
forest spread before and around him like a level park, with thicketed
ravines here and there on each side. And presently that deceitful
level led to a higher bench upon which the pines towered, and were
matched by beautiful trees he took for spruce. Heavily barked, with
regular spreading branches, these conifers rose in symmetrical shape to
spear the sky with silver plumes. A graceful gray-green moss, waved
like veils from the branches. The air was not so dry and it was
colder, with a scent and touch of snow. Jean made camp at the first
likely site, taking the precaution to unroll his bed some little
distance from his fire. Under the softly moaning pines he felt
comfortable, having lost the sense of an immeasurable open space
falling away from all around him.

The gobbling of wild turkeys awakened Jean, "Chuga-lug, chug-a-lug,
chug-a-lug-chug." There was not a great difference between the gobble
of a wild turkey and that of a tame one. Jean got up, and taking his
rifle went out into the gray obscurity of dawn to try to locate the
turkeys. But it was too dark, and finally when daylight came they
appeared to be gone. The mule had strayed, and, what with finding it
and cooking breakfast and packing, Jean did not make a very early
start. On this last lap of his long journey he had slowed down. He was
weary of hurrying; the change from weeks in the glaring sun and
dust-laden wind to this sweet coot darkly green and brown forest was
very welcome; he wanted to linger along the shaded trail. This day he
made sure would see him reach the Rim. By and by he lost the trail.
It had just worn out from lack of use. Every now and then Jean would
cross an old trail, and as he penetrated deeper into the forest every
damp or dusty spot showed tracks of turkey, deer, and bear. The amount
of bear sign surprised him. Presently his keen nostrils were assailed
by a smell of sheep, and soon he rode into a broad sheep, trail. From
the tracks Jean c