Crusoe's island . ?. I quicklydismounted and placed the package securely in the legof one of my boots, then pushed on with all speed toreach a turning-point of the mountains some distanceahead, in order to be out of sight by the dawn of day,which could not be far off. In about an hour I hadgained this point, and at the same time the first faintstreaks of the coming day began to appear in the easternsky. The air was peculiarly balmy—cool enough to bepleasant, and deliriously odorous with the herbage of themountains. Already the deer began to leave their cov-erts among the shrubbery on the hill-
Crusoe's island . ?. I quicklydismounted and placed the package securely in the legof one of my boots, then pushed on with all speed toreach a turning-point of the mountains some distanceahead, in order to be out of sight by the dawn of day,which could not be far off. In about an hour I hadgained this point, and at the same time the first faintstreaks of the coming day began to appear in the easternsky. The air was peculiarly balmy—cool enough to bepleasant, and deliriously odorous with the herbage of themountains. Already the deer began to leave their cov-erts among the shrubbery on the hill-sides, and numer-ous bands of them stood gazing at me as I passed, theirantlers erect, their beautiful forms motionless* as if hewn. A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. ?_> i ; from the solid rock, but manifesting more curiosity thanfear. Thousands of rabbits frisked about in the openglades, and innumerable flocks of quail flitted from bushto bush. The field-larks and doves made the air musicalwith their joyous hymns of praise to the rising sun; thebusy hum of bees rose among the wild flowers by thewayside; all nature seemed to awake from its reposesmiling with a celestial joy. In no other country uponearth have I seen such mornings as in the interior ofCalifornia—so clear, bright, and sparkling—so rich andglowing in atmospheric tints—so teeming with unbound-ed opulence in all that gives vigor, health, and beauty toanimated nature, and inspiration to the higher facultiesof man. There is a redundancy of richness in the earth,air, and light unknown even in that land of fascinationwhich is said to possess the fatal gift of beauty. Contrasted with the dark spirit of crime that hungover my late encampment, such a morning wa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade, booksubjectminesandmineralresources
