214 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



its back, where the ground was soft and 

 swampy. Some gigantic ferns which we 

 passed through came nearly to our shoulders. 

 We passed also several patches of swamp 

 honeysuckles, red with blossoms. 



Our guide at length paused on a big rock 

 where the land began to dip down the other 

 way, and concluded that he had gone far 

 enough, and that we would now have no dif- 

 ficulty in finding the lake. "It must lie 

 right down there," he said, pointing with his 

 hand. But it was plain that he was not 

 quite sure in his own mind. He had several 

 times wavered in his course, and had shown 

 considerable embarrassment when bearing to 

 the left across the summit. Still we thought 

 little of it. We were full of confidence, and, 

 bidding him adieu, plunged down the moun- 

 tain side, following a spring run that we had 

 no doubt led to the lake. 



In these woods, which had a southeastern 

 exposure, I first began to notice the wood- 

 thrush. In coming up the other side, I had 

 not seen a feather of any kind, or heard 

 a note. Now the golden trillide-de of the 

 wood-thrush sounded through the silent 

 woods. While looking for a fish-pole about 

 half-way down the mountain, I saw a thrush's 



