IN THE FOREST 91 



some places fell almost perpendicularly down 

 to the lake. The evening was lovely, the lake 

 without a ripple, mountain and forest reflected 

 as in a mirror. The whole scene gave a feel- 

 ing of peace which can only be found in 

 communion with nature. 



Camp and dinner took our thoughts away 

 in a more practical direction, and leaving 

 Smith and Thomson to pitch camp, Lansdown 

 and I started for the lake end of the river to 

 secure a few more trout for the pot. 



There was the most extraordinary collection 

 of driftwood on the beach — colossal trees 

 lying packed across one another, showing 

 how high the lake must rise when the torrents 

 descend from the precipitous mountains. 



On our return, we found Smith and Thomson 

 had pitched camp in the forest near the lake, 

 but the ground was sodden and covered with 

 a thick moss. No drier spot could be found, 

 so we had to make the best of it. The mos- 

 quitoes were troublesome till sunset, when they 

 disappeared. I had the same experience during 

 the entire trip. Very often unbearable the 

 hour before sunset, they disappeared as night 

 closed in, and I never had occasion to use a 

 mosquito curtain. The nights were cold, which 

 perhaps^accounted for it. 



I could not help contrasting the camp and 



