Appearance until the last of the rushing throng vanished
behind the western mountain, leaving the bridge as bright and solid
and steadfast as before they arrived. But later, half an hour or so,
it began to fade. Fissures or cracks crossed it diagonally through
which a few stars were seen, and gradually it became thin and
nebulous until it looked like the Milky Way, and at last vanished,
leaving no visible monument of any sort to mark its place.
I now returned to my cabin, replenished the fire, warmed myself, and
prepared to go to bed, though too aurorally rich and happy to go to
sleep. But just as I was about to retire, I thought I had better take
another look at the sky, to make sure that the glorious show was
over; and, contrary to all reasonable expectations, I found that the
pale foundation for another bow was being laid right overhead like
the first. Then losing all thought of sleep, I ran back to my cabin,
carried out blankets and lay down on the moraine to keep watch until
daybreak, that none of the sky wonders of the glorious night within
reach of my eyes might be lost.
I had seen the first bow when it stood complete in full splendor, and
its gradual fading decay. Now I was to see the building of a new one
from the beginning. Perhaps in less than half an hour the silvery
material was gathered, condensed, and welded into a glowing, evenly
proportioned arc like the first and in the same part of the sky. Then
in due time over the eastern mountain-wall came another throng of
restless electric auroral fairies, the infinitely fine pale-gray
garments of each lightly touching those of their neighbors as they
swept swiftly along the under side of the bridge and down over the
western mountain like the merry band that had gone the same way
before them, all keeping quivery step and time to music too fine for
mortal ears.
While the gay throng was gliding swiftly along, I watched the bridge
for any change they might make upon it, but not the slightest could
I detect. They left no visible track, and after all had passed the
glowing arc stood firm and apparently immutable, but at last faded
slowly away like its glorious predecessor.
Excepting only the vast purple aurora mentioned above, said to have
been visible over nearly all the continent, these two silver bows in
supreme, serene, supernal beauty surpassed everything auroral I ever
beheld.
Glossary of Words in the Chinook Jargon
Boston: English.
Chuck: Water, stream.
Deliat: Very, or very good.
Friday: Shoreward.
Hi yu: A great quantity of, plenty of.
Hootchenoo: A native liquor. See page 202.
Hyas: Big, very.
Klosh: Good.
Kumtux: Know, understand.
Mika: You, your (singular).
Muck-a-muck: Food.
Poogh: Shoot, shooting.
Sagh-a-ya: How do you do?
Skookum: Strong.
Skookum-house: Jail.
Tillicum: Friend.
Tola: Lead (verb).
Tucktay: Seaward.
Tumtum: Mind, heart.
Wawa: Talk (noun or verb).
End of the Travels in Alaska, by John Muir
