BIRCH BROWSINGS. 193 



rock that belted the highest part of the mouiitain. 

 There was quite a broad plateau here, and the birch 

 ^ood was very dense, and the trees of unusual size. 



After resting and exchanging opinions, we all con- 

 cluded that it was best not to continue our search en- 

 cumbered as we were ; but we were not willing to 

 abandon it altogether, and I proposed to my com- 

 panions to leave them beside the spring with our 

 ti'aps, while I made one thorough and final effort to 

 find the lake. Jf I succeeded and desired them to 

 come forward, I was to fire my gun three times ; if I 

 failed and wished to return, I would fire it twice, they, 

 of course responding. 



So filling my canteen from the spring, I set out 

 again, taking the sjiring run for my guide. Before I 

 had followed it two hundred yards it sank into the 

 ground at my feet. I had half a mind to be super- 

 stitious and to believe that we were under a spell, 

 since our guides phiyed us such tricks. However, I 

 determined to put the matter to a further test, and 

 struck out boldly to the left. This seemed to be the 

 keyword, — to the left, to the left. The fog had now 

 lifted, so that I could form a better idea of the lay of 

 the land. Twice I looked down the steep sides of 

 the mountain, sorely tempted to risk a plunge. Still 

 I hesitated and kept along on the brink. As I stood 

 on a rock deliberating, I heard a crackling of the 

 brush, like the treai of some large game, on a plateau 

 oelow me. Suspecting the tru*h of the case, I moved 

 itealthily down, and found a herd of young cattl« 

 1.3 



