and apparently so admirably adapted to the wild life in which he delighted, that he determined to remain here for the remainder of his days. "The lower mountains," says Mr. Farnham, "were covered with tall pines, and above and around, except in the east, where the morning sun sent his rays, the bright glittering ridges rose high against the sky decked in the garniture of perpetual frosts. Along the valley lay a clear pure lake, in the centre of which played a number of fountains which threw their waters many feet above its surface, and sending their waves rippling away to the pebbly shores, made the mountains and groves that were reflected from its bosom, seem to leap and clap their hands for joy at the sacred quiet that reigned amongst them."
Having gazed for a long time upon this beautiful spot the trapper resolved to explore it carefully, and determine from what parts strangers could enter a valley so completely shut in as to appear to have been hitherto altogether lost sight of by human beings. It was important to him to determine if it was tenanted by any other person besides himself, and if there were places of escape should it be entered by hostile persons by the path by which he had discovered it. He found no other except one for the waters of the lake, through a deep chasm in the mountains, and this was such, that no one Could descend it alive to the lower valleys; for, as he waded and swam by turns down its waters, he soon found himself drawn by an increasing current, which sufficiently indicated to him the cause of the deep roar that resounded from the caverns below. He accordingly made the shore, climbed along among the projecting
