A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



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 gleefully 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 contemplating 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 response. 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 

 106 



