A NOOK IN THE ALLEGHANIES 163 



far as a stranger could judge, the main 

 reason of the town's existence), and thence 

 had taken a side-road that runs among the 

 hills in the direction of Peak Knob, the 

 highest point near Pulaski. A lucky mis- 

 direction, or misunderstanding, sent me too 

 far to the right, and there my eye rested 

 suddenly upon a bank covered with strange- 

 looking yellow violets ; like pubescens in 

 their manner of growth, but noticeably dif- 

 ferent in the shape of the leaves, and notice- 

 ably not pubescent. A reference to the 

 Manual, on my return to the hotel, showed 

 them to be F. hastata, " rare ; " and that 

 magic word, so inspiriting to all collectors, 

 made it indispensable that I should visit the 

 place again, with a view to additional speci- 

 mens. The next morning it rained heavily, 

 and the road, true to its Virginian character, 

 was a discouragement to travel, a diabolical 

 misconjunction of slipperiness and supreme 

 adhesiveness ; but I had come prepared for 

 such difficulties, and anyhow, in vacation 

 time and in a strange country, there was no 

 staying all day within doors. I had gath- 

 ered my specimens, of which, happily, there 

 was no lack, and was wandering about under 



