one after another, and throwing their
wings, which, when unfolded, turn into
snowy whiteness, over the boulders that
lie along the shore.
The village consists of a large mill,,
neat white cottages, a general store,
shops of various kinds, and a town hall
with a lodge room for the I. O. G. T.,
and a large and valuable library for the
benefit of the employes.
The mill company own the whole
town together with a region of timber
land running several miles from the
coast and lying on both sides of the
river. They also have a railroad run-
ning from the mill to the lumber camp,
so that instead of harnessing a team of
horses, they hitch up an engine, drive
out seven miles in the mountains and
Hunting a Whale. 59
haul in ten or fifteen thousand feet at
a load.
We were told that the mill sawed
from fifty to sixty thousand feet of
lumber each day. The company is said
to he vastly rich, and very honorable in
all their transactions. They own their
own vessels and ship their own lumber,
employing about five hundred men pay-
ing the most liberal wages.
From the beach we could see the
Point Arena Light-house twenty miles
away, and the ocean far beyond.
It was late in the afternoon when a
bank of fog began to lift from the very
horizon far in the distance, and the
sun shining from the dark cloud formed
a scene which would have delighted
the eyes of an artist.
The ocean of water seemed to change
into an ocean of heaven's own glory.
Such flashing emblazonry, such daz-
zling brilliancy, such dancing of colors.
Indeed, we were reminded of a "sea of
glass mingled with fire."
60 Camping Out in California.
And then we could imagine as we
gazed in almost breathless silence, be-
yond the dark watery plains that the
New Jerusalem had descended with all
its intermingling of ruby, and emerald,
and sapphire.
And as we continued our ardent gaze
until our eyes were almost blinded, we
found ourselves exclaiming,
"0 Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My heaven, my home, for evermore."
Along the coast road we crossed sev-
eral streams that were deep down in
narrow gulches. Some of these streams
we crossed on bridges so high above
the water that we found ourselves
among the topmost branches of very
tall trees, and it made our heads dizzy
as we attempted to look down upon the
little silver brooks that were silently
gliding on to mingle with the mighty
ocean.
Hunting a Whale. 61
Several of the bridges were old, shat-
tered and narrow, with no railing,
and would tremble beneath the horses'
feet and the rolling wheels. And
there were a number of holes through
the plank that the horses were liable
to step, into and receive serious in-
juries.
We went down a steep hill at the
foot of which was one of these old
bridges, our horses were on a lively
trot and one stepped through a hole
and fell. We thought his leg was
broken, but fortunately it was not,
although he was very lame for several
days.
Along this road we found some of
the hills to be very steep and were
necessarily compelled to alight from
the wagon and practice pedestrianism
on the ascending grade. This, how-
ever, was not unpleasant, as we needed
exercise and it afforded us the pleasure
of examining the rocks that projected
from the banks and of gathering
62 Camping Out in California.
Various kinds of mosses, ferns and wild
flowers. In this Golden State, Flora,
with bountiful hand has everywhere
scattered her beautiful treasures, from
the tiny alfillarea to the fragrant mount-
ain lilac and waxy blossomed madrone,
so we met new and sweet surprises all
the way.
We had a delightful view of the
ocean from the Point Arena Light-
house, which is considered one of the
best on this coast, standing on the bank
and rising one hundred and fifty feet
above the water, its red light can be
seen from Mendocino City, a distance
of thirty-five miles.
As we climbed the winding stairs
within the tower, stopping occasion-
ally to rest, and look out of the little
windows, we could feel the tall and
slender building tremble as the wind
was blowing very hard, and we were
inclined to be a little nervous. But
when at the top viewing the wonderful
and voluminous lamp with its power-
Hunting a Whale. 63
ful lens powerful yet so delicate and
sensitive that it could not endure the
touch of Harry's inquisitive fingers,
and the white-capped waves of the an-
gry ocean, we were fully repaid for our
toil and trouble. From those lofty
windows the radiant light flashes far
out over the dark and stormy sea, and
the heart of many a sailor is cheered by
its dazzling brightness. This light-
house stands in a conspicuous place
on a dangerous point that projects
several miles into the ocean, and with
the billows on three sides it stands a
faithful sentinel nightly warning the
sailors away from danger and death;
yet it has been only a few years since
a steamer was wrecked on the reef
close by this signal light.
While standing there so far above
the world of sin and care, and looking
out upon the vast and mighty deep
toward the north, south and west we
could readily perceive the important
position which it occupied.
64 Camping Out in California.
The keeper told us that the light
must be guarded, kept in order, and
watched with care that it might shine
brightly for the benefit of those who
travel the highway of the Pacific. If
the light should go out it would mean
destruction of life and property. But
the Christian who is placed as a light-
house upon the dark and dangerous
shore of time, often allows his light
to burn dimly and sometimes to go
out.
Our Savior said, " Let your light
shine before men that others seeing
your good works may glorify your
Father which is in heaven." And
when neglecting his orders the Chris-
tian lets the light in his heart go out,
the effects are more deplorable and
disastrous than when the radiance dis-
appears from the light-house tower. "If
the light that is in you be darkness, how
great is that darkness?"
After coming down from the dizzy
height and placing our feet once more
Hunting a Whale. 65
upon the solid earth, we felt that an
impression had been made upon our
minds that would linger there for a
long time.
Now the keeper takes us several
rods from the bank and shows us a
large hole, (quite a number of feet
across), in the earth which is sur-
rounded by dry, level and fertile land.
As we look down into this opening we
behold the water rising and falling as
the waves roll in and out. The ocean
had worn away the sub-soil and grad-
ually crept in beneath the bank until
this opening was made by the ground
dropping into the water.
While standing there we realized for
the first time that the sea was beneath
our feet even while we were standing
on green grass and in the midst of
blooming trees and flowers.
In several places we noticed small
pieces of land ranging from one or two
rods square to a half acre or more
standing with perpendicular walls fif-
66 Camping Out in California.
teen or twenty feet above the water
which surrounded them on all sides.
And thus North America, "The land
of the free and the home of the brave/'
is actually wearing out. The hand of
angry Neptune is stealing our land from
beneath our feet.
And if this powerful invader contin-
ues to steal one inch from this coast
every year, in less than two hundred
million years it will reach the Missis-
sippi River. And in the meantime
the waves of the Atlantic, and the
Gulfs of Mexico and St. Lawrence will
grind away the remainder of the United
States, and if the world should remain
so long a time what will its inhabitants
do for land to cultivate?
Perhaps it is not wise or best at the
present time to be looking so far into this
world's future. One blessed assurance
we have, God's children have the prom-
ise of a home which not even a mighty
world of waters can destroy.
As we traveled through this region
Hunting a Whale. 67
we were forcibly impressed with the
scarcity of Christian workers; the un-
belief and opposition to the Bible, and
the indifference and lukewarmness on
the part of those who professed to be
followers of Christ.
In Point Arena there were two min-
isters, two church buildings and nine-
teen church members. From Point
Arena to Ingrams, a distance of fifty
miles, there was not a Protestant
church of any denomination. And the
whole distance was settled by enter-
prising farmers, woolgrowers and lum-
bermen. There were also several vil-
lages containing mills, stores, school-
houses and saloons.
How sad to see such fields unoc-
cupied, while in some small railroad
towns there are a dozen ministers
preaching to the same people, and in
some of the cities a still larger number
are waiting for a call to some wealthy
or desirable field.
We were told that the road down the
68 Camping Out in California.
coast was more dangerous and difficult
to travel than any we had passed over,
so we concluded to leave the coast,
and for a few r days try the mountains
and valleys again. After passing
through a beautiful and fertile country
we found ourselves slowly climbing a
steep mountain. The road was narrow
and rough, and much of the time we
were compelled to walk.
We reached the summit as the sun
was sinking in the west, and a more
picturesque scene than the one we then
beheld is seldom spread out before the
eyes of humanity.
We seemed to be standing on the
dome of a vast cathedral looking down,
far down, upon an extensive emerald
lake glittering with the jewels of a
brighter world.
That very morning we gazed out
upon the dark billows of the broad
and deep Pacific, now we are looking
far over the waves of leaves and feath-
ery boughs, which are gloriously inter-
Hunting a Whale. 69
mingled with the golden waves which
flow from the sinking orb of day. Even
our horses, though tired and covered
with sweat and dust, lift their heads
and seem revived at a sight so grand
and invigorating.
For several evenings we had listened
to the heavy, drum-like music of the
billows lashing the rocks, and the
shrill voice of the sea-fowl. Now as
we stand far above ocean, field and
forest, we listen to the mountain zephyr
as it plays so softly among the droop-
ing branches, while far beneath us and
along the surface of what still appears
like a richly colored lake of paradise,
the birds with wings glistening in the
sunlight are darting and sailing in
evening sport, and the rich chorus of
their voices, like sweet notes from heav-
en's orchestra, arise to the mountain
height.
While standing around our wagon
feasting our eyes on the surrounding-
glory, the mild and golden radiance
70 Camping Out in California.
vanished, the birds disappeared be-
neath the surface, the distant mount-
ains assumed a darker hue, and we
were seriously reminded of the fact
that we had not yet reached the land
where there shall be no more night.
The boys, after taking the harness
from the horses, turned them out on a
plot of grass, which, although some-
what withered and parched by the
sun, was, nevertheless, very nutritious
and afforded our burden-bearers a
rich repast. As the shadows of night
gathered around us we pitched our
tent in the light of our blazing camp-
fire and after we had fared sumptu-
ously on bread, fruit and wild-game,
we lay down to rest while the dying
embers still glowed in front of our
tent.
Before falling asleep, however, we
had some serious thoughts concerning
the wild beasts that might be prowl-
ing near, as we had seen several strange
tracks on the mountain side.
Hunting a Whale. 71
And that we should have startling
thoughts will not seem strange to my
readers when I relate a little of our ex-
perience two years previous to this
time. We were rusticating on the
summit of Elk Mountain in a little
brush house which served as a pro-
tection from the sun by day and the
wind by night. Immediately to the
north of our temporary dwelling-place
was Grizzly canyon, so deep and dark
that we could not, from our location,
see the bottom. It was said to have re-
ceived its name from the many grizzly
bears that had been seen in and around
it. The first night while surrounded
by our spicy curtains, we heard a
crashing in the brush and then heavy
footsteps. At first we thought it might
be a horse, but as it passed near we
imagined we heard a low growl. Next
morning we discovered tracks which
measured twelve inches across, an In-
dian said they were those of a very
large grizzly bear; a few rods from our
72 Camping Out in California.
little booth were two dead sheep that
had been torn to pieces during the
night. They belonged to a gentleman
who kept a large flock on the mount-
ain. He said Bruin stole a number
of his sheep every year. We did not
spend another night in that frail dwel-
ling and even the boys were afraid to
venture down into Grizzly canyon.
As we lay in our tent thinking for a
moment of that powerful denizen of the
dark mountain gorge that made us
such a friendly visit, and not knowing
but members of the same family might
be very near, we felt a little momentary
disquietude.
But the wind changed the lofty tree-
tops into sweet toned instruments of
music and played such gentle tunes
that we could almost fancy angels were
hovering over us, now soft as the
harps of heaven, now rising higher as
if new instruments and new voices were
joining the chorus, and now lulling to
a mere murmur and dying away among
Hunting a Whale. 73
the branches of other trees in the dis-
tance. Thus, after committing our-
selves to the care of Him who shields
and protects his children, our weary
spirits were soothed into quiet rest
and we were safely folded in the arms
of nature's balmy restorer.
CHAPTER V.
SABBATH ON THE MOUNTAIN.
We were awakened the next morn-
ing by the happy birds that were send-
ing forth their soft silvery notes into
the pure morning air that hovered
over the mountain's brow. It was the
holy Sabbath, and far from the sound
of a church bell we arose to keep the
day holy unto the Lord.
Although we were not blest with the
opportunity of sitting within the sanct-
uary to receive instruction from the
sacred desk, our hearts were not pained
by beholding men, women and chil-
dren violating the Sabbath of the Lord
our God.
The heavens above us, and the earth
beneath us, and all things around us
were quietly resting. It indeed seemed
glorious to be able to spend a Sabbath
Sabbath on the Mountain. 75
where we could look around upon the
handiwork of God without witnessing
the desecration of the fourth command-
ment.
But how humiliating is the fact that
in order to dwell in a place where the
Lord's day is not profaned we must
find some secluded spot away from our
own brothers and sisters, yes, away
from the very creatures who were made
in the image of their Divine Maker,
and the only creatures of earth to
whom is given that power and exalted
privilege of communing with the omnip-
otent Jehovah.
Here, exalted above the lower world,
above and far from the noisy crowds
who, disregarding the commands of
Him who keeps them in existence, and
holds their eternal destiny in his power
are not afraid to use the day which He
has set apart to be kept holy in seeking
their own pleasure, we were not
ashamed to look the Holy Sabbath
squarely in the face.
76 Camping Out in California.
No wonder the prophet Jeremiah
said, "Oh, that I had in the wilderness
a lodging place, that I might leave my
people."
We never realized more forcibly the
purity and glory and spiritual beauty
of the Christian Sabbath where it is
untouched by the guilt-stained hand of
sinful man.
We could look in every direction far
away over valleys, rivers and plains
without having our vision darkened by
the workers of iniquity.
We could listen to nature's sweet and
perpetual anthem that came from the
stream beneath, the birds above, and
the breezes all around without having
our ears grated upon by the discord of
sinful and inharmonious notes.
And although we could see the effects
of sin in the scarred and broken rocks
of the distant towering cliff, the gnarled
and twisted trees, the fire-red of the
poison-oak, and the loathsome weeds
intermingled with the grass and flow-
Sabbath on the. Mountain. 77
ers, we could see no sin outside of our
own unsanctified hearts.
We spent the day in reading God's
word and in prayer and quiet medita-
tion. And as the evening breeze arose
from the ocean and came merrily sing-
ing through the branches and leaves, we
felt to mingle our voices with the sweet
refrain in the use of the precious words :
"Thine earthy Sabbath, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above :
To which our longing souls aspire,
With ardent pangs of strong desire."
As the setting sun was smiling upon
the barren peak and the wooded vale,
and sending his piercing arrows through
the red-wood drapery, and gorgeously
coloring the little clouds that sailed
like fairy ships upon the vast ocean of
ether, we felt that we were standing in
the midst of the glory of the omnipo-
tent God. And like Jacob of old we
exclaimed, "How dreadful is this place,
this is none other than the house of
God, this is the gate of heaven."
78 Camping Out in California.
If a Sabbath on the mountain top,
above the commotion and turmoil of
the world is so glorious, what will it be
in the land where sin is ever unknown,
"Where congregations ne'er break up.
And Sabbaths never end."
Where nothing can enter "that de-
fileth or maketh a lie."
When the sun had gone down and
the night seemed to be dropping out of
the glowing day
"And the last beam of daylight,
Shone dim in the west,"
We buttoned our tent and retired,
feeling at peace with God and all the
world.
Early next morning we were going
down the other side of the mountain
which we found less difficult and far
more pleasant than the ascending
grade, so it is all through life, easy to
go down and hard to go up.
We had gone only a short distance
when we heard happy voices merrily
shouting, singing and laughing, and
Sabbaih on the Mountain. 79
in a few moments met three teams
loaded with a jovial crowd of young
people. They were full of life and joy,
and saluted us with pleasant smiles
and friendly greeting, and passed on.
"Like as a plank of drift-wood,
Tossed on the watery main,
Another plank encounters,
Meets, touches, parts again ;
So tossed and drifting ever,
On life's unresting sea,
We meet, and greet, and sever,
Parting eternally."
In a short time we reached the
grove in which they spent the Sabbath.
It was a very cool and pleasant place.
The trees were trimmed a little higher
than a man's head, and the under-
brush removed and comfortable seats
here and there, and a table on which
were scraps of meat and crumbs of
bread for the birds and squirrels, and
the smoke of the camp-fire feebly aris-
ing from the earth. On one of the firs
was nailed aboard on which was printed
in large letters, "Happy Camp." "Well
80 Camping Out in California.
named/' said Linnie, "for it is the hap-
piest looking place I have yet seen."
Here the trees seemed to he alive with
birds of various sizes and colors, some
very tiny creatures, but their feathers
were bright and their voices sweet.
Each one seemed to do its best to excel
in singing louder than the others. The
brook was not silent, but kept up a
low harmonious chant, as the spark-
ling water whirled around a rock or
poured over a sunken log.
In this stream we noticed several
deep pools which looked as though
there might be mountain trout at the
bottom, and as there were fish bones
around the public table of this forest
mansion, the boys thought it a good
place to try our luck at fishing, but we
deemed it best not to linger on our
way so early in the morning. As we
were passing along, we beheld in a
lovely glade, a doe quietly feeding, and
standing near her side was a cute little
fawn, beautiful as a picture. We
Sabbath on the Mountain. 81
scarcely caught sight of them before
they went bounding away beyond our
sight.
Eda exclaimed, "Oh, the dear little
creatures." "Certainly Eda. We all
knew they were deer" replied Will.
"Of course they are deer, and dear as
they can be."
It was about ten miles to the foot of
the mountain. All the way the woods
were sweetly perfumed by the breath
of summer. Although the sky was
clear and the sun shone brightly, we
did not suffer with the heat. We had
a better protection from the power of
Sol's burning eye than the wagon sheet.
Far above our heads was the almost
unbroken and impenetrable shade. And
with little, sparkling springs gushing
here and there from the rocks, and our
road on either side fringed with the
beautiful maiden-hair and other varie-
ties of ferns we greatly enjoyed our
morning's fall of a thousand feet.
At the foot of the mountain we came
82 Camping Out in California.
out from under the great and richly
tasseled sun shade, which nature had
prepared to protect the traveler from
the burning rays of the noon-day sun.
Here we entered a fertile valley and
during the remainder of the day beau-
tiful farms lay on either side of the
road.
And in front of almost every house
was a delightful flower garden, in
many of which women and girls were
at work.
In this valley everything seemed
home-like. Horses and cattle and
sheep were grazing in the pastures,
while pigs, geese and chickens seemed
to have possession of the highway.
That night we camped in an open
field in \vhich a number of wagons
loaded with men, women and children,
eight children in one wagon had
entered a little before our arrival.
In this party there were several in-
valids who claimed to be improving
ever}* day, and judging by the quantity
Sabbath on the Mountain. 85
of provisions cooked in their dutch-
ovens and skillets for the supper that
night, we did not doubt that statement
in the least.
They had no tent, but slept on the
ground, and lived on hot biscuit, wild
game, etc. An invalid must indeed
be far gone if unable to rally by this,
kind of treatment.
Among our new acquaintances and
quick made friends was a very old lady
nearly eighty who was so weak
before starting on her camping trip
that she was unable to sit up but a
few moments at a time. When they
started she was lifted into the wagon
and placed on a bed which had been
prepared for her. But now there was
a tinge on her wrinkled cheeks, and
her eyes were bright, and her step
seemed nearly as elastic as that of a
young woman. She told us she would
be perfectly satisfied if there had been
room in the wagon for her rocking
chair.
84 Camping Out in California.
She was a pert, little grandmother
and loved to tell funny stories, and re-
hearse the experiences of her early life.
Linnie and Ecla listened with close at-
tention, and looked at each other
amazed and somewhat incredulous as
the aged dame told about crossing
the plains in '49, and how folks lived
when she was a gal.
Ben and Harry spent the evening
in romping and playing around the
camp-fires with other children, and it
was late in the evening before we re-
tired.
The next morning we were somewhat
diverted to see the long rows of uncov-
ered heads that were lying near our
tent, and notice the diversity of colors.
They were different shades of white
and brown and red.
But presently one after another be-
gan to rise, and about nine o'clock we
parted from our friends who took
another road and continued our jour-
ney southward.
Sabbath on the Mountain. 85
As the day was very warm and the
road dusty, we drove slowly and stopped
occasionally in the shadow of some
large oak, or near some stream where
fhe horses could rest while the boys
searched for game, and the girls gath-
ered flowers to adorn and perfume our
carriage.
Flowers, and ferns, and moss, and
grass, and bearded grain, and starfish,
and curious rocks were tied to the
bows, and pinned to the cover, and
crowded under the seat, until we could
well have passed for a traveling
museum.
Before night we came to the foot of
a mountain and seeing no water or
good camping ground we concluded to
continue our journey in the cool of the
evening. When about half way to the
summit, Will and Ben turned off on
an old road to have so they said a