118 THE ADIRONDACK 



the tops, pulled them over with oxen. And thus 

 they work and toil away here in the woods — yet not 

 wholly heedless of the great world without. How 

 strange it seems to behold men thus occupied — living 

 contentedly fifty miles from a post office or village — 

 and hear their inquiries about the war with Mexico, 

 asking of events that have been forgotten months ago 

 in New York ! 



The path grew rapidly worse as we proceeded — in 

 some places endangering the limbs of our animals, and 

 indeed our own necks. Sometimes we were up to the 

 girths in a morass, and again leaping a huge tree — 

 but at last we arrived at Long Lake, and it was lite- 

 rally reaching the end of the journey. The path as we 

 approached the shore, had dwindled to a mere Indian- 

 trail, and there entirely disappeared. With no road 

 around, and no sign of life in sight, save a solitary log 

 hut on the farther side of the lake, we waded up and 

 down the shore till stopped by the rocks — looking in 

 vain for some way of escape. Just then a flock of 

 wild ducks shot out of a small bay at our feet, when 

 crack ! crack ! went our rifles. The next moment a 

 boat put off from the opposite shore, rowed by a boy. 

 "Where is the path," was our inquiry as he ap- 



