Page:The Tourist's California by Wood, Ruth Kedzie.djvu/250

 208 THE TOURIST'S CALIFORNIA and with a half-gasp of fear and surprise dis- cover the universe. The breakers of a mountain-sea are flung high about us, while a mountain meadow sleeps five hun- dred fathoms down. To our ears comes the far song of cataracts, and our eyes behold them strip- ping with white their alcoves and rifts of stone. Yosemite Falls and the ojival hemi-circles of the Royal Arches are unbared with the whole north wall. Half Dome, an incredible manifestation of the wonders God performs, turns from the east its riven purple-shadowed plane. Within the limits of a day we may see these can- yons, cliffs and crests displayed in the dreaming silver of the moon, in the blare of the sunshine, or in storm, when clouds buffeted from dome to dome descend like smoke of battle about the warrior peaks. The over-venturous creep along the gargoyle nose of granite called Overhanging Rock. Cling- ing to the tip, they are suspended on a Brink o' Space nearly a mile and a half in the air. If one does not exact luxury on a mountain top he will find himself comfortable at the hospice whose verandahs survey this mighty spectacle, for as many summer days as he may wish to stay. Many come by the short trail, spend the night here and continue the next morning to the Falls of the Merced, or to Cloud's Rest, or to Liberty Cap.