BIRCH BROWSINGS. 185 



abandon it altogether, and I proposed to my compan- 

 ions to leave them beside the spring with our traps, 

 while I made one thorough and final effort to find the 

 lake. If I succeeded and desired them to come for- 

 ward, I was to fire my gun three times ; if I failed and 

 wished to return, I would fire it twice, they, of course, 

 responding. 



So filling my canteen from the spring, I set out 

 again, taking the spring run for my guide. Before I 

 had followed it two hundred yards it sank into the 

 ground at my feet. I had half a mind to be supersti- 

 tious and to believe that Ave were under a spell, since 

 our guides played us such tricks.. However, I deter- 

 mined to put the matter to a further test, and struck 

 out boldly to the left. This seemed to be the key- 

 word, — to the left, to the left. The fog had now 

 lifted, so that I could form a better idea of the lay of 

 the land. Twice I looked down the steep sides of the 

 mountain, sorely tempted to risk a plunge. Still I 

 hesitated and kept along on the brink. As I stood on 

 a rock deliberating, I heard a crackling of the brush, 

 like the tread of some large game, on a plateau below 

 me. Suspecting the truth of the case, I moved stealth- 

 ily down, and found a herd of young cattle leisurely 

 browsing. We had several times crossed their trail, 

 and had seen that morning a level, grassy place on the 

 top of the mountain, where they had passed the night. 

 Instead of being frightened, as I had expected, they 

 seemed greatly delighted, and gathered around me as 



