16 - WESTERN INCIDENTS.

perhaps for greater safety. When near the top we
started up a bevy of mountain grouse, one of which had
the audacity to sit out the discharge of our revolvers,
upon a limb within twenty feet of us, without evincing
ereater emotion than an occasional wink of the left eye ;
but after our pistols were unloaded, Mr. Brown fired a
stone at the bird, which struck a tree near by, and caused
it to beat a hasty retreat. I had unfortunately left my
rifle and fowling-piece in the carriage.

BERTHOUD PASS.

We reached Berthoud Pass at two P. mM. on Tuesday,
_ September 18; and were, for the first time in our lives,
greeted with a most extended and magnificent view of
the Pacific slope of the Western Continent. The sum-
- mit of the Pass is but a few hundred feet below the tim-
ber, or arborescent line; and is about 6,100 feet above
Denver City, and 11,200 feet above the level of the sea.
The main range, or divide of the continent, was visible to
the north and west for a distance of 100 miles at least,
far beyond Long’s Peak, which reared its bald head,
spotted with eternal snow, high above the average level of
the range. After spending an hour upon the Pass, and
taking such note of the topography as would refresh our
memories hereafter, we ascended the point of mountain
south of the Pass to an elevation several hundred feet
above the tree line, from which the view of Middle Park,
the valley of a tributary of Grand River, leading west-
ward from the Pass; and the extended westerly slopes of
the Rocky Mountain ranges, formed a most enchanting
picture. The exhilarating effects of the high mountain
air and sublime scenery, inspired Mr. Williams with a
desire for a patriotic song. After some urging from Mr.