1 A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



up again. h6 might not deviate from 

 his course. His directors had told him of 

 a hunter's cabin about midway on his route, 

 which if he struck he might be sure he was 

 right. About noon this cabin was reached, 

 and at sunset he emerged at the head of 

 Dry Brook. 



After looking in vain for the line of 

 marked trees, we moved off to the left in a 

 doubtful, hesitating manner, keeping on the 

 highest ground and blazing the trees as we 

 went. We were afraid to go down hill, lest 

 we should descend too soon ; our vantage- 

 ground was high ground. A thick fog com- 

 ing on, we were more bewildered than ever. 

 Still we pressed forward, climbing up ledges 

 and wading through ferns for about two 

 hours, when we paused by a spring that 

 issued from beneath an immense wall of 

 rock that belted the highest part of the 

 mountain. There was quite a broad plateau 

 here, and the birch wood was very dense, 

 and the trees of unusual size. 



After resting and exchanging opinions, 

 we all concluded that it was best not to 

 continue our search encumbered as we were ; 

 but we were not willing to abandon it alto- 

 gether, and I proposed to my companions 

 102 



