OVER THE MOUNTAIN. 293 



It was travelled only at rare intervals, and was a mere 

 mountain-path at best. Where it was totally impassable, 

 the frontiersman had cut a path around the spot, and on 

 his four wheels, joined by a buck-board, succeeded in 

 making his way up and down the steep acclivity. 



A lofty plateau, like a great step, jutted out from the 

 base of the mountain proper, from the edge of which 

 the eye roamed over a wide expanse of country, broken 

 up into every imaginable shape, with here and there 

 quiet settlements, that looked like calm resting-places 

 outside of the great restless world. 



At length we entered the forest and began the sharp 

 ascent of the mountain. Then began the toil of the 

 day ; there was no turning out to avoid bad places, for 

 the forest was too dense ; and right up the rocky bed of 

 the torrent our panting team was compelled to strain. 

 A gentleman and two ladies from the city were stopping 

 a few days at Westport, and their imagination being 

 excited by my description of the glories of the wilder- 

 ness, resolved to accompany us as far as the Lower Sara- 

 nac. These ladies were soon the sole occupants of the 

 wagon, but even they at length became too great a load ; 

 for, as it careened and pounded over the huge rocks, it 

 broke down, when they, too, were compelled to foot it 



