A JOURNEY TO NATURE 



tic centres by the cry of the pea-hens or the bark 

 of a dog, and generally having an index-finger 

 stuck up in the shape of a well-sweep. 



Once we came upon a printed warning: &quot;No 

 trespassing on these grounds, under penalty of 

 the law. Beware of the dogs.&quot; That stopped 

 us. I think r.t jarred a little on the general sense 

 of looseness and laziness. The Doctor looked at 

 me inquiringly, and I undertook to explain : 



&quot;Modern improvements,&quot; I said; &quot;lawns, 

 coverts, perhaps a preserve.&quot; 



The Doctor climbed up on the fence and ex 

 amined the sign. &quot; It has been painted about 

 ten years, I should judge,&quot; he said. &quot; Suppose 

 we investigate it.&quot; 



&quot; I am with you,&quot; I said. &quot; I can take care of 

 one dog if you will look out for the other.&quot; 



We climbed over the fence, went through the 

 trees and underbrush, and came out on a road 

 that had once been gravelled. It brought us to a 

 house, mansion-like in proportions, with the shut 

 ters tight and the doors boarded up. In front 

 stood an old broken vase, with vestiges of a foun 

 tain and some broken pieces of plaster that may 

 have been a statue. We sat down and surveyed 

 the melancholy pile. 



&quot; The country is dotted with them every ten 

 miles from Penobscot to the Golden Gate,&quot; said 

 the Doctor. &quot; I ll warrant that some old sea-cap 

 tain who gave his life to battling with the ocean 

 comforted himself up to the time of his dotage 

 with retirement on a farm. Doubtless he was a 



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