A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



cided in favor of the former course. After 

 a march of three quarters of an hour the 

 blazed trees ceased, and we 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 man- 

 ner and without any result. I came upon 

 a brood of young grouse, which diverted 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 

 unable to fly, hid themselves. She whined 

 like a dog in great distress, and dragged 

 herself along apparently 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 interest 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 coat- 

 sleeve, when it ran and nestled in my armpit. 



120 



