BIRCH BROWSINGS 



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. 



So, filling my canteen from the spring, I 

 set out again, taking the spring run for my 

 guide. Before I had followed it two hundred 

 yards it sank into the ground at my feet. 

 I had half a mind to be superstitious and to 

 believe that we were under a spell, since 

 our guides played us such tricks. However, 

 I determined to put the matter to a further 

 test, and struck out boldly to the left. This 

 seemed to be the keyword, to the left, to 

 the left. The fog had now lifted, so that I 

 could form a better idea of the lay of the 

 land. Twice I looked down the steep sides 

 of the mountain, sorely tempted to risk a 

 plunge. Still I hesitated and kept along on 

 the brink. As I stood on a rock deliberat- 

 ing, I heard a crackling of the brush, like 

 the tread of some large game, on a plateau 

 below me. Suspecting the truth of the 

 case, I moved stealthily down, and found a 

 herd of young cattle leisurely browsing. 

 103 



