184 WAKE-ROBIN 



concluded we were near the point at which we had 

 parted with the guide. So we built a fire, laid 

 down our loads, and cast about on all sides for some 

 clew as to our exact locality. Nearly an hour was 

 consumed in this manner and without any result. 

 I came upon a brood of young grouse, which di- 

 verted me for a moment. The old one blustered 

 about at a furious rate, trying to draw all attention 

 to herself, while the young ones, which were un- 

 able to fly, hid themselves. She whined like a dog 

 in great distress, and dragged herself along appar- 

 ently with the greatest difficulty. As I pursued 

 her, she ran very nimbly, and presently flew a few 

 yards. Then, as I went on, she flew farther and 

 farther each time, till at last she got up, and went 

 humming through the woods as if she had no inter- 

 est in them. I went back and caught one of the 

 young, which had simply squatted close to the 

 leaves. I took it up and set it on the palm of my 

 hand, which it hugged as closely as if still upon the 

 ground. I then put it in my coatsleeve, when it 

 ran and nestled in my armpit. 



When we met at the sign of the smoke, opinions 

 differed as to the most feasible course. There was 

 no doubt but that we could get out of the woods; 

 but we wished to get out speedily, and as near as 

 possible to the point where we had entered. Half 

 ashamed of our timidity and indecision, we finally 

 tramped away back to where we had crossed the line 

 of blazed trees, followed our old trail to the spring 

 on the top of the range, and, after much searching 



