28 THE BROOK BOOK 



with baskets is so harshly condemned! But would 

 you have us miss this chance for the first picnic of 

 the year? The baskets were far heavier on the 

 trip to Tower Hill than when homeward bound. 

 Confirmed picnickers all three, we never missed a 

 chance for a meal in the woods, though we had to 

 carry the heavy baskets several miles. 



The roads were good, for a wonder, and with 

 the basket and the coffee-pail swung on a stout 

 stick we began our climb. To go round Tower 

 Hill would be too long a trip ; besides, the view 

 from its bare top was part of the fun. When we 

 reached the summit and had gazed off into the 

 next county, besides seeing a fair share of our 

 own, we began the descent of the north slope. 



"Do you hear the falls?" said the Doctor, whose 

 hearing was as keen as a hunter's. 



We listened, and followed him. Soon we too 

 heard the splash and trickle of the water and has- 

 tened our steps. It was along this stream that the 

 "Walking Party" had discovered years ago the first 

 "morels" I had ever seen. Taking them home to 

 learn their history I was told that they were good 

 to eat and that nothing else on earth looked 

 enough like them to be mistaken for them. 



We followed the course of the stream, making 

 our own path as we went. Ellen pounced upon the 

 first promising bit of green which showed under 

 the carpet of dead leaves. It proved to be a small 

 plant of arbutus too young to have a blossom. 



"Wait till we get farther down," I advised 

 knowingly. 



