TROUBLE BEGAN 265 



fringed like an Indian warrior, sombre-hued 

 cedar, with maple, pine, and occasional self- 

 centred spruce, one and all in the varied 

 tender green of spring. 



It was a joy and delight to sit on the 

 piazza and, aided by the glass, to look far in 

 among the trees rejoicing in their fresh life 

 and vigor ; but when the student rashly tried 

 to penetrate this promised land, to seek out 

 its shy inhabitants, trouble began. This was 

 Nature's own undisputed territory, and she 

 had shown what she could do in the way of 

 a tangle to keep intruders out of the secret 

 places provided for the comfort and safety of 

 her wild creatures her beasts and birds. 

 It must be admitted that when Nature sets 

 out to place barriers to our encroachments, 

 she generally accomplishes her aim. These 

 woods were a striking example of her abil- 

 ity. 



Placed, to begin with, on rocks of varying 

 height standing at all angles, with pitholes 

 between cunningly hidden by moss (her fa- 

 vorite method in Maine), then filled in with 

 undergrowth of many sorts, half -decayed 

 stumps, and fallen trees, inviting to the 



