122 AMEEICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTIKG. 



The midday meal was hardly over before the forest, 

 which had been as still during the morning as if it were 

 a painted one, began to get its voice, so to speak, and to 

 bow and sough before a stiff breeze which blew from the 

 ocean. Some said this indicated rain, and suggested 

 that it would be best to remain in camp during the after- 

 noon, but others thought we ought to make the most of 

 the time at our command and get as much game as pos- 

 sible. The latter having carried the point, we started 

 off again, leaving the cook behind to keej) camp and 

 drive away any animals that might take a fancy to our 

 food. We had not proceeded more than a mile before it 

 became evident that a storm was brewing, but, not caring 

 to turn back, we continued on our course, though we 

 met no game except grouse, and these we tumbled out 

 of the trees, where they had sought refuge from the 

 threatened violence of the elements. 



While we were wandering about, the forest giants 

 changed their notes from subdued murmuring to a hiss- 

 ing moan, and, finally, swayed violently back and forth 

 and fairly roared. The rain also came down in such 

 heavy torrents that the whole heavens seemed to have 

 been let loose, while the wind screamed, and whirled 

 leaves and branches through the air in the wildest con- 

 fusion. Finding it impossible to face the fury of the 

 tempest, we sought shelter under the protecting arms of 

 a huge fir, which must have seen many centuries of life, 

 but it proved anything but a refuge to us, for we were 

 drenched to the skin in a short time. Our situation 

 finally became so uncomfortable that we decided to get 

 back to camp as soon as possible, for it was evident that 

 we could not be in a worse plight than we were. We 

 therefore sallied forth, and bending low our heads, in 

 order to overcome the resistance of the wind and protect 

 ourselves from the clouds of sticks that were flying about, 

 we ran for our quarters as fast as our clinging garments 



