BIRCH BROWSINGS. 177 



directly on the other side." What could be easier ! 

 But on a little further inquiry, they said we should 

 " bear well to the left " when we reached the top of 

 the mountain. This opened the doors again ; " bearing 

 well to the left " was an uncertain performance in 

 strange woods. We might bear so well to the left that 

 it would bring us ill. But why bear to the left at all, 

 if the lake was directly opposite ? Well, not quite op- 

 posite • a little to the left. There were two or three 

 other valleys that headed in near there. We could 

 easily find the right one. But to make assurance 

 doubly sure, we engaged a guide, as stated, to give us a 

 good start, and go with us beyond the bearing-to-the- 

 left point. He had been to the lake the winter be- 

 fore, and knew the way. Our course, the first half- 

 hour, was along an obscure wood-road which had been 

 used for drawing ash logs off the mountain in winter. 

 There was some hemlock, but more maple and birch. 

 The woods were dense and free from underbrush, the 

 ascent gradual. Most of the way we kept the voice of 

 the creek in our ear on the right. I approached it 

 once, and found it swarming with trout. The water 

 was as cold as one ever need wish. After a while the 

 ascent grew steeper, the creek became a mere rill that 

 issued from beneath loose, moss-covered rocks and 

 stones, and with much labor and puffing we drew 

 ourselves up the rugged declivity. Every mountain 

 has its steepest point, which is usually near the sum- 

 mit, in keeping, I suppose, with the providence that 

 12 



