A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



near at hand. I heard their tramp, the 

 bushes parted, and we three met again. 



In answer to their eager inquiries, I as- 

 sured them that I had seen the lake, that 

 it was at the foot of the mountain, and that 

 we could not miss it if we kept straight down 

 from where we then were. 



My clothes were soaked with perspiration, 

 but I shouldered my knapsack with alacrity, 

 and we began the descent. I noticed that 

 the woods were much thicker, and had quite 

 a different look from those I had passed 

 through, but thought nothing of it, as I 

 expected to strike the lake near its head, 

 whereas I had before come out at its foot. 

 We had not gone far when we crossed a 

 line of marked trees, which my companions 

 were disposed to follow. It intersected our 

 course nearly at right angles, and kept along 

 and up the side of the mountain. My im- 

 pression was that it led up from the lake, 

 and that by keeping our own course we 

 should reach the lake sooner than if we 

 followed this line. 



About half way down the mountain, we 

 could see through the interstices the op- 

 posite slope. I encouraged my comrades 

 by telling them that the lake was between 

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