222 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



After looking in vain for the line of 

 marked trees, we moved off to the left in a 

 doubtful, hesitating manner, keeping on the 

 highest ground, and blazing the trees as we 

 went. We were afraid to go down hill, lest 

 we should descend too soon ; our vantage- 

 ground was high ground. A thick fog 

 coming on, we were more bewildered than 

 ever. Still we pressed forward, climbing 

 up ledges, and wading through ferns for 

 about two hours, when we paused by a spring 

 that issued from beneath an immense wall 

 of rock that belted the highest part of the 

 mountain. There was quite a broad plateau 

 here, and the birch wood was very dense, 

 and the trees of unusual size. 



After resting and exchanging opinions, we 

 all concluded that it was best not to con- 

 tinue our search encumbered as we were ; 

 but we were not willing to abandon it al- 

 together, and I proposed to my companions 

 to leave them beside the spring with our 

 traps, while I made one thorough and final 

 effort to find the lake. If I succeeded and 

 desired them to come forward, I was to fire 

 my gun three times ; if I failed and wished 

 to return, I would fire it twice, they, of 

 course, responding. 



