BIRCH BROWSINGS. 213 



sure, we engaged a guide, as stated, to give 

 us a good start, and go with us beyond the 

 bearing-to-the-left point. He had been to 

 the lake the winter before, and knew the 

 way. Our course, the first half-hour, was 

 along an obscure wood-road which had been 

 used for drawing ash logs off the mountain 

 in winter. There was some hemlock, but 

 more maple and birch. The woods were 

 dense and free from underbrush, the ascent 

 gradual. Most of the way we kept the voice 

 of the creek in our ear on the right. I ap- 

 proached it once, and found it swarming 

 with trout. The water was as cold as one 

 ever need wish. After a while the ascent 

 grew steeper, the creek became a mere rill 

 that issued from beneath loose, moss-covered 

 rocks and stones, and with much labor and 

 puffing we drew ourselves up the rugged 

 declivity. Every mountain has its steepest 

 point, which is usually near the summit, in 

 keeping, I suppose, with the providence that 

 makes the darkest hour just before day. It 

 is steep, steeper, steepest, till you emerge on 

 the smooth, level or gently rounded space at 

 the top, which the old ice-gods polished off 

 so long ago. 



We found this mountain had a hollow in 



