IVam's-Heads in WitcH Hollow 99 



supposed that I could find the spring in the dark; but 

 I penetrated the thicket a little north of the right place, 

 by the slab-bridge where, in rainy seasons, the water 

 drains from the hills. Hunting around, however, to 

 learn where the spring lay, I stumbled straight upon a 

 little company of Ram's-Head Lady's Slippers. In 

 my pleasure and excitement, I exclaimed, " Here are 

 Ram's-Heads ! " frightening my friend so that she ran 

 clear out of the thicket. She soon returned, however, 

 when assured that there was no danger, and admired 

 the rare little flock with me. There were only a dozen 

 plants in the group, none of course in blossom; but 

 several bore plump seed-capsules, proving that they 

 had bloomed early in the season. I determined to 

 return to this nook another day. 



The next morning I started off cross-lots, over the 

 hills afoot, to my sylvan shades, carrying my usual 

 basket and kit of tools, with an added two-quart pail, 

 which I promised to fill with raspberries. These 

 berries were plentiful, I had observed, through the 

 John- Fallow sheep pastures. Here I found a spring 

 trickling from the shelving slate rocks, and this guided 

 me through a meandering network of swamps, all the 

 way to Cold Spring, in Witch Hollow below. 



Major frisked about among the fields, and we had a 

 happy time sliding down the dry and slippery pasture 

 slopes. There, at the foot of the hill, we entered a 

 deep, dark woodland, — just Major and I, who are faith- 

 ful, congenial comrades. My constant hound is ever 

 ready to follow my footsteps, and if he chances to lose 



