Se

28 THE CARIBOO TRAIL

ing to the slope of the ground. River-bank is
followed where possible; but where windfall
Or precipice drives back from the bed of the
river over the mountain spurs, the pathfinder
takes his bearings from countless signs. Moss
is on the north side of tree-trunks. A steep

Slope compels a zigzag, corkscrew ascent, but

the slope of the ground guides the climber
as to the way to go; for slope means valley ;
and in valleys are streams; and in the stream
is the ‘ float,’ which is to the prospector the one
shining signal to be followed. Timber-line is
passed till the forests below look like dank
banks of moss. Cloud-line is passed till the
clouds lie underneath in grey lakes and pools.
A ‘fool hen’ or mountain grouse comes out
and bobbles her head at the passing pack-
train. A whistling marmot pops up from the
rocks and pierces the stillness. Redwings and
waxbills pick crumbs from every camp meal ;
and occasionally a bald-headed eagle utters a
lonely raucous cry from solitary perch of dead
branch or high rock.

Naturally enough, the pack-train uncon-
sciously follows the game-trail of deer and goat
and cougar and bear across the slope to the
watering-places where springs gush out from
the rocks. One has only to look close enough