The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15


 - guide whom everyone called
 Goldie. because of his golden hair, was
 indeed a memorable one. For the
 first time the boys were getting a
 taste of real Western life in the sad
 dle.
 Much excitement had been afforded
 them by refractory pack -horse that
 had persisted in wandering from the trail that led through the verdant val ley; and Hal and Jack had played no small part in rounding him up." But once in line again, the animal trotted along the trail as peacefully as though he had never in all his hard life even thought of browsing around on his own hook.
 High up on either side of the beau tifui little valley rose the grim noun tain, dotted here and there with patches of snow that glistened in the bright sunlight like great diamonds on green and brown rock-strewn canopy. The boys were to see more later of these seemingly small patches of snow. which in reality were glaciers of considerable size-but, of course, they were not aware of it.
 On and on along the winding trail went the procession-pack-h in front, then Jack and Hal and with MT. Hamilton and Goldie bringing up the rear. Sometimes, where the trail broadened. they rode two abreast: but more often 1t was in single file and. Indeed. the boys found it no easy mat ter to dodge the overhanging branches.
 Occasionally they would come upon collection of huge boulders strung out across the trail And Hal and Jack marvelled indeed at the skill and strength with which the sturdy little ponies dug their front feet into the sloping, slippery sides of the rocks | and climbed over them. What sure footed beasts they were!
 Presently there was waited to them | on the wind the sound of rushing waters.
 'Listen!" exclaimed Hal. What is that--water
 Yes. Hal" said MT. Hamilton. whose horse just then happened to be abreast of his, tits water but, I fam cy, water that is different from any you have ever seen. And"
 Its swift. isn't 1t. father?" put in little Jack. whose horses nose was now right over the trump of Halls steed. so closely do these cayuses TaVel together on the trail.
 Yes. Jack" smiled MT. Hamilton. But you boys just wait and see. Why, you'll imagine 1t Is a mill-race. And. most of all. you will be amazed at its temperature-why. boys, it's as cold as Ice water. In fact. that is really what it is.
 Tn the winter, you know, these big towering above us are cov- cred with snow. Great white peaks, they rear their snow-capped heads high into the air; and then, when spring and the warm sunshine comes, the snow on their sides thaws and melts and the water rushing down. hill joins that which bubbles up con- ( from the underground springs. .
 These little streams flow along natural declivities in the mountain ana, presently we find a number of them emptying into the same decliv- ity and we have rushing mountain torrent.
 Those patches of snow high up on the mountains, boys, are called gla- clers' ana While they are melting right along they are so protected by their . altitude and by their positions in the 1, "Hcie the sun cannot reach 1 them with its full force that they <, never melt entirely. Before our trip :, IS over we will climb many of these f you will be amazed to f md what gigantic wastes of solid snow and ice they are"
 And just then, the little party came < Tn sight or the stream. Clear as crys- e tai and dark blue and green and sil- yer, according to the reflection of the / ignt In various parts, it was rush . ng along, pell-mell. over the rocks. md singing and roaring as it tore past