226 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



than a mile in circumference, with evenly 

 wooded shores, which rose gradually on all 

 sides. After contemplating the scene for a 

 moment, I stepped back into the woods, and 

 loading my gun as heavily as I dared, dis- 

 charged it three times. The reports seemed 

 to fill all the mountains with sound. The 

 frogs quickly hushed, and I listened for the 

 response. But no response came. Then I 

 tried again, and again, but without evoking 

 an answer. One of my companions, how- 

 ever, who had climbed to the top of the high 

 rocks in the rear of the spring, thought he 

 heard faintly one report. It seemed an im- 

 mense distance below him, and far around 

 under the mountain. I knew I had come 

 a long way, and hardly expected to be able to 

 communicate with my companions in the 

 manner agreed upon. I therefore started 

 back, choosing my course without any refer- 

 ence to the circuitous route by which I had 

 come, and loading heavily and firing at in- 

 tervals. I must have aroused many long- 

 dormant echoes from a Rip Van Winkle 

 sleep. As my powder got low, I fired and 

 hallooed alternately, till I came near splitting 

 both my throat and my gun. Finally, after 

 I had begun to have a very ugly feeling of 



