MORNING IN THE WOODS. 77 



told how profound were their slumbers, I sallied out 

 in search of fuel. But there was nothing but green 

 fir-trees, that would not burn, to be found; and, after 

 striking mj axe into several, and getting mj lower 

 extremities thoroughly wet, I returned and lay down 

 again, and slept till morning. With the first dawn, I 

 was up, and, taking the Indian's canoe, pushed off in 

 search of a deer. The heavy fog lay in masses upon 

 the water, and the damp morning was still and quiet 

 as the night that had passed. I floated about till the 

 sun rose over the mountains, turning the lake into a 

 sheet of gold, and sending the mist in spiral wreaths 

 skyward, and then slowly paddled my way back to 

 camp. As I was thus floating tranquilly along over 

 the water, I heard, far up the lake, where it lost itself 

 in the mountains, two distinct and heavy reports like 

 the discharge of fire-arms. Who could be in that 

 solitude besides ourselves ? was the first inquiry. I 

 mentioned the circumstance when I reached the camp, 

 and found that my companions, who had been busy 

 in preparing breakfast, had also heard the reports. 

 Mitchell, just then returning from an expedition after 

 a fish-hawk, which he brought back with him, heard 

 them also, and very quietly remarked they were 

 not rifle shots. His quick ear never deceived him. 

 " What, then, were they?" I inquired. " Trees," he 

 replied. "But," said I, " there is not a breath of air 

 this morning, while it blew very hard yesterday after- 

 noon." "They always fall," he replied, "before a 

 storm. It will storm by to-morrow." There was some- 

 8 



