BIRCH BROWSINGS 173 



as I ran. Pthrung, pthrung, croaked the old 

 ones; pug, pity, shrilly joined in the smaller fry. 



Then I caught, through the lower trees, a gleam 

 of blue, which I first thought was distant sky. A 

 second look and I knew it to be water, and in a 

 moment more I stepped from the woods and stood 

 upon the shore of the lake. I exulted silently. 

 There it was at last, sparkling in the morning sun, 

 and as beautiful as a dream. It was so good to 

 come upon such open space and such bright hues, 

 after wandering in the dim, dense woods ! The eye 

 is as delighted as an escaped bird, and darts glee- 

 fully from point to point. 



The lake was a long oval, scarcely more than a 

 mile in circumference, with evenly wooded shores, 

 which rose gradually on all sides. After contem- 

 plating the scene for a moment, I stepped back into 

 the woods, and, loading my gun as heavily as I 

 dared, discharged it three times. The reports 

 seemed to fill all the mountains with sound. The 

 frogs quickly hushed, and I listened for the re- 

 sponse. But no response came. Then I tried 

 again and again, but without evoking an answer. 

 One of my companions, however, 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 

 immense 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 



