time.

There is so much of interest in these famous old mining camps and in
the strange freaks of nature. Here are the numerous hot springs and
Pyramid Lake, an enormous body of water forty miles out in the desert,
which possesses no apparent outlet although the Truckee flows into it.
And apart from that, the development of agriculture and irrigation is
interesting.

I will try and describe some of my motor trips through Nevada and
California.

One fine Sunday we set out on an automobile trip to Virginia City over
the great Gieger Grade, which has become so famous through the
wonderful Comstock Lode from which over seven hundred millions in gold
and silver have been extracted. The ride was most exciting, and the
magnificent scenes unrolling themselves continuously upon each swerve
round a sharp curve or a dangerous bend, just held us all enthralled.

Often I was reminded of Switzerland, and then as I gazed, more and
more enraptured by the delirious orgy of multi-colored hues, and
looked at the precipitous ascent we had made; at the heights we had
yet to climb, and at the undulating peaks that stood like an army of
sentinels guarding us on every side, I forgot I was in the land of
Nevada. I had drifted into an Arabian Night reverie, and not till the
forty horse-power winged horse suddenly lost its equilibrium and gave
a most ungainly lurch, not till then did I redescend to earth. While
the incapacitated horse partook of first aid to the injured, I got out
and gathered some of the prettiest little flowers I have ever seen;
all the more marvelous because nature takes care of them in some