were immense. The lower branches came clear to the ground and grew so
dense that any tree afforded a splendid shelter from the weather, but I
was nervous and wanted one that would protect us against any possible
attack. At last we found one growing in a crevice of what seemed to be
a sheer wall of rock. Nothing could reach us on two sides, and in front
two large trees had fallen so that I could make a log heap which would
give us warmth and make us safe. So with rising spirits I unpacked and
prepared for the night. I soon had a roaring fire up against the logs
and, cutting away a few branches, let the heat into as snug a bedroom
as any one could wish. The pine needles made as soft a carpet as the
wealthiest could afford. Springs abound in the mountains, so water was
plenty. I staked "Jeems" quite near so that the firelight would
frighten away any wild thing that tried to harm him. Grass was very
plentiful, so when he was made "comfy" I made our bed and fried our
trout. The branches had torn off the bag in which I had my bread, so it
was lost in the forest, but who needs bread when they have good, mealy
potatoes? In a short time we were eating like Lent was just over. We
lost all the glory of the sunset except what we got by reflection,
being on the side of the mountain we were, with the dense woods
between. Big sullen clouds kept drifting over and a wind got lost in
the trees that kept them rocking and groaning in a horrid way. But we
were just as cozy as we could be and rest was as good as anything.

I wish you could once sleep on the kind of bed we enjoyed that night.
It was both soft and firm, with the clean, spicy smell of the pine. The
heat from our big fire came in and we were warm as toast. It was so
good to stretch out and rest. I kept thinking how superior I was since
I dared to take such an outing when so many poor women down in Denver
were bent on making their twenty cents per hour in order that they
could spare a quarter to go to the "show." I went to sleep with a