186 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



found it swarming with trout The water was aa 

 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 summit, in 

 keeping, I suppose, with the providence that makes 

 the darkest hour just before day. It is steep, steeper, 

 steepest, till you emerge on the smooth, level or 

 gently rounded space at the top, which the old ice- 

 gods polished off so long ago. 



We found this mountain had a hollow in its back 

 where the ground was soft and swampy. Some gi- 

 gantic ferns, which we passed through, came nearly 

 to our shoulders. We passed also several patches of 

 swamp honeysuckles, red with blossoms. 



Our guide at length paused on a big rock where 

 the land began to dip down the other way, and con- 

 cluded that he had gone far enough, and that we 

 would now have no difficulty in finding the lake. " It 

 must lie right down there," he said, pointing with his 

 hand. But it was plain that he was not quite sure in 

 his own mind. He had several times wavered in his 

 course, and had shown considerable embarrassment 

 when bearing to the left across the summit. Still 

 we thought little of it. We were full of confidence, 

 and, bidding him adieu, plunged down the mountain* 

 aide, following a spring run that we had no doubt led 

 to the lake. 



