The New York herald., 1921-02-13
\ black bear cub.

bear cub.
lungs deep, fresh draught of noun
tain air, but then you are suddenly
called back to earth, out of the won
derful trance, by the exhaust Of a big
auto truck or the shrill blast of the
traffic policeman's whistle.
You read of the howl of the coyotes
and the yapping OF the prairie dogs
and once more you are awakened TO
present surroundings by the bark of
d cur going by in n wagon. Neverthe.
less Mr.. Mills's pictures are power
full enough to silence the sounds Of the
city till the reader is completely swal-
lowed up In the wilds and the fas-
cinating life that exists there. The
book Is made up Of series of sketches
varying greatly in subject. And the
freshness and freedom with which
the author relates his experiences are
enough to make anybody long for
Gods country.
In the first chapter we stand with
Enos Mills 1880 feet above sea level.
on the very top of the Continental
Divide. looking back down the Atlantic
IL
battered trees at timber line. with here
and there a forest lake or a grassy
opening showing down In the woods.
There were only few snowdrifts. Far
out to the east, about one hundred
miles. could see the dry. brown plains
in eastern Colorado"
But looking down the slope on the
west Mr.. Mills found that everything
was white. From few hundred feet
below where was standing and west
ward for one hundred miles snow lay
deep over everything; forests, noun
tains and valleys were all In white. 1t
frequently happens that while one
mountainous region is very wintry an
other locality on the opposite side OF
the same mountains may be having
mild weather."
1t was not enough for Mr.. Mills to
look down this glasslike. inviting
stretch of snow and icei No. At once
he exclaimed: what a place to
coast!" And in the next breath wished
for dozen boys to try 1t with him.
This would be the place for speed
steep places with long plunges-great
rushes through ~ air. Hills and spe-
cial toboggan slides would be gentle
and tame compared with this steep.
wild mountainside." Seating himself on
his snowshoes. away he went, coast
ing off the top of the world. 1t was
such a thrilling coast that IT took two
hours to get back to the starting
point: then another coast down the
mountain and the day was done.
But Mr.. Mills gives us only one
chapter OF such sport. He takes us
on. whether 1t be hunting trip with
the camera for grizzly cubs or on a
scientific search for fossil animals such
MS Chalicothere horses with giraffe-like
necks and claw feet. or pirate rivers
that cut Off the heads Of other streams.
We learn all there Is to know about
snowslides. and his pictures Of the
beaver and their habits are so vivid
that one feels quite sure Mr.. Mills has
had many talks with them.
The chapter "A Blind Guide" tells of
man hunt" that continued for three
days and two nights. during which
time Crandall. the pursued. was with
out food and the Indians ever hot on
his trail. The glare OF the sun on
the Western desert brought about
blind SPELL. He is rescued by a detail
OF soldiers from Fort Lapway. After
they have given him food and bathed
his eyes he learns that they are lost
Lying on an improvised stretcher.
swung between two mules. the blind
man directs the soldiers into the fort.
So we finally come TO the trails end
and we close our copy OF waiting In
the wilderness" thankful for some
breathiess moments with the author.
Mr.. Mills knows how TO tell good
story. giving the proper perspective to
his personal experiences. But II took
a most unusual preparation to write
this book To travel for weeks on the
ridge pole of the Rockies with but a
few raisins for food. trailing black
bears, mountain lions. beavers. coyotes
and deer. with camera as his sole
weapon, required courage and hardi-
hood that come only with experience.