A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



right, and so had passed down on the wrong 

 side of the ridge, into what we afterwards 

 learned was the valley of Alder Creek. 



We now made good time, and before 

 many minutes I again saw the mimic sky 

 glance through the trees. As we ap- 

 proached the lake a solitary woodchuck, 

 the first wild animal we had seen since 

 entering the woods, sat crouched upon the 

 root of a tree a few feet from the water, ap- 

 parently completely nonplussed by the un- 

 expected appearance of danger on the land 

 side. All retreat was cut off, and he looked 

 his fate in the face without flinching. I 

 slaughtered him just as a savage would have 

 done, and from the same motive, — I wanted 

 his carcass to eat. 



The mid-afternoon sun was now shining 

 upon the lake, and a low, steady breeze 

 drove the little waves rocking to the shore. 

 A herd of cattle were browsing on the other 

 side, and the bell of the leader sounded 

 across the water. In these solitudes its 

 clang was wild and musical. 



To try the trout was the first thing in 

 order. On a rude raft of logs which we 

 found moored at the shore, and which with 

 two aboard shipped about a foot of water, 



112 



