ears it had stood at its
post. I found the counting of these annual rings extremely difficult,
as they were so dense that it was hard to distinguish them and they
averaged from fifty to a hundred rings to an inch of thickness, but the
small magnifying glass I carried made it possible.

The most striking thing I discovered about the timberline trees was
their irregularity. There was no similarity of form, as prevails among
trees of the deep forest. Each tree took on a physical appearance
according to its location and its opportunities. One resemblance only
did they have in common: none had limbs on the west side. All their
leafy banners pointed toward the rising sun. Thus I learned the
direction of the prevailing winter winds. The west side of the trees
were polished smooth, many cut halfway through. Trees that had reached
maturity, or had died, were stripped almost bare of limbs, which had
been cut away by the constant scouring.

There were abundant tracks of deer, and some of elk, but I saw not a
single animal. Near the spot from which had risen the terrifying
sounds of that first night, a deep-worn game trail led down into the
heavy forests. Sharp hoofs had cut into it recently, yet neither hide
nor hair of an animal did I glimpse. There were no traces of beaver
nor any coyote tracks. There were bear tracks, but the small traps I
had brought would not hold bear, so I did not set them. I was running
low on provisions, for I had counted on the game for meat: I had meant
to have venison steak as soon as I had got settled in my permanent camp.

Here was mystery! My curiosity was challenged; I determined to fathom
it!

How I studied those tracks! Those of the sheep could be distinguished
by the rounded toe marks of their hoofs, worn blunt by the granite
rocks they lived on. This was especially true of the forefeet. They
were also wide apart, while the deer tracks were sharply pointed, with
the hoofs close together. Days passed and the tracks in the trails
grew dim, but not before I had read their story. I followed the
sheep's up above timberline--they grew plainer and more numerous. So
that was it! The sheep climbed where the wind would keep their tables,
spread with sweet cured grass, swept free of snow, and had placed the
barrier of timberline drifts between them and their enemies!

The other tracks all led down to the valleys. There in the foothills
winter would be less rigorous, and the grass