intervals, stopping to listen
and to look for the person in distress. There was no answer, no one in
sight. As I reached the steep slope, leading upward to the high peaks,
I heard terrified, heart-rending cries, southward, toward the spot from
which the first call had come. It was strange, and maddening, that I
could hear him so distinctly, yet he could not hear me. He was
certainly deaf or very stupid, for he continued calling for help, when
help was pursuing him and yelling at the top of its lungs.

Again calls. This time straight south of my position. It was a
riddle; annoying, yet interesting. Never in my mountain experience had
I encountered such a mystifying situation. However, with grim
determination, but little enthusiasm, I turned south. My curiosity was
aroused. I wanted to see what sort of fool ran around in dizzy circles
yelling for help, yet not waiting for an answer to his supplications,
nor acknowledging my answering shouts.

I was in prime condition, and well warmed up with ten miles of travel.
My endurance was too much for the will-o'-the-wisp. As, for the second
time, I neared the spot from which he had first called, he shattered
the silence with lusty appeals, then broke cover within a hundred yards
of where I followed, hot on his trail. He looked able-bodied and
goodness knows he'd been active, so I withdrew into the shadows of a
thicket to watch what he would do.

After his outcry, he kept mumbling to himself--his words were
inaudible--lost his voice--don't wonder! Some rooter he'd make at a
football game while he lasted! After muttering a minute, he stopped
and listened intently, as though expecting an answer. Good heavens!
He thinks he can be heard! He moved on, staggering crazily, stumbling,
stopping to look at the shining peaks; then going on aimlessly.
"Loco," I decided.

I circled ahead of him and concealed myself behind an old stump. I
wanted to hear what he was saying. Twice he had crossed the road that
ran down the valley, the only road in that vicinity. From Cabin Rock I
had seen a tent beside it.

As he came toward me, I stepped from behind the stump.

"What in time ails you?" I roared.

He stared at me and walked completely around me before saying a word.

"Huh," he grunted then. "Where'd you come from?"

I explained with considerable emphasis that I had come from almost
every point of the compass.

"Will you tell me why in Sam Hill you are yelling for he