204 Mountain and Forest Rambles. 



source of a mountain rivulet, whose bed we were to use as a 

 guide of descent. It was a tedious afternoon's work. More 

 exertion was requisite, and many steep places were to be 

 cautiously passed. Over some cool and sparkling cascade 

 we found now Luzula parvijidra waving its spikelets of 

 drooping flowers, or else mingling them with the silken 

 thread-like peduncles of Aira purpurea. Again we could 

 but admire the patience and sagacity of our guide. By many 

 an expedient did he save us trouble. Sometimes he would 

 lead us along slopes where '' our feet were in slippery places," 

 and we were sustained only by strongly grasping the over- 

 hanging bushes. Anon, nothing remained, but to sit down 

 on the wet rocks and slide forward as best we might. Va- 

 riety, however, is said to be the spice of life. So we might 

 have found it, if need were. Ascending at the extreme 

 brow, we went dry shod and thirsty ; descending at the other 

 extreme end of the mountain, we were wet through and 

 some water to spare. Presently the occurrence of a rare 

 Fern, my friend sought, brought satisfaction. It proved, 

 strange to say, the only specimen of the sort on our down- 

 ward course. He gathered its fronds carefully, and we pro- 

 ceeded. At 6 1 P. M. we had effected the descent. 



We now stood at the base again, and " in the woods about 

 the 'Notch' at the north base of Mansfield Mountain." It 

 was to arrive at this locality that we took the general course 

 we pursued after leaving the chin. It was the specified 

 locality in Oakes' Catalogue of the Plants of Vermont, where 

 grew PoLYSTicHUM aculeaVum, the choice fern alluded to 

 just now. We were fortunate enough to find it plentifully 

 just where we had come. All hands were busy again, and 

 with our guide's assistance, we bestowed a goodly number 

 of broad and richly fruited fronds between sheets of large 

 blotting paper, carefully borne over mountain and adown 

 crag for this specific purpose. Securely tied and properly 

 attended to, we were, in half an hour's time, ready for a new 

 tramp, which was now to assume a homeward aspect. But 

 the entire length of the base was to be traversed, and this 

 over a varied surface, across the stream in its changing course, 



