“But there are times when even the most valiant defenders of the forest are momentarily overpowered. There comes a blizzard; the gale howls and shrieks as it tears back and forth for days at a stretch, trying to force a passage through the defence line. And sometimes a little soldier is rooted up with malignant fury, and used by the merciless gale to batter at his companions. This generally proves futile, however.
“It is not always in the wintertime that the most terrific blizzards occur in the Rockies. In July, when all the country is pining for a breeze, these peaks produce blizzards that surpass anything heard of in winter, and these summer storms are the most destructive, as the trees are green and full of tender tips, that are ruthlessly torn off during the gale.
“Then, too, the summer months generally produce the awful snowslides you hear about, that are quite common in the Rockies.”
“Oh, I wish we could see one of them!” exclaimed Julie, impulsively.
“Child, you don’t know what you are saying!” said Mr. Gilroy, earnestly. “If you ever went through one, as I have, you’d never want to experience another, I assure you.”
“Oh, Gilly! Do tell us about it,” cried the scouts.
And Mr. Vernon added, “Yes, Gilroy, do tell us the story.”
“It was many years ago, while I was on a geological trip through the Rockies. Tally and I were ready to start for a several days’ outing on the peaks when the man we lodged with said, ‘You are going out at a bad time. Some big slides have been reported recently.’
“I, like Julie here, said, ‘I’d like the excitement of riding a slide.’
“The rancher said I was locoed, but he went about his business after that. So I took my snowshoes in case I met a slide and had to ride it.