206 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



spent a week in the neighborhood ; but the question 

 of supplies was a serious one, and would brook no 

 delay. 



When we reached, on our return, the point where 

 we had crossed the line of marked trees the day be- 

 fore, the question arose whether we should still trust 

 ourselves to this line, or follow our own trail back to 

 the spring and the battlement of rocks on the top of 

 the mountain, and thence to the rock where the 

 guide had left us. We decided in favor of the former 

 course. After a march of three quarters of an hour 

 the blamed trees ceased, and we concluded we were 

 near the point at which we had parted with the guide. 

 So we built a fire, laid down our loads, and cast about 

 on all sides for some clew as to our exact locality. 

 Nearly an hour was consumed in this manner and 

 without any result. I came upon a brood of young 

 grouse, which diverted me for a moment. The old 

 one blustered about at a furious rate, trying to draw 

 all attention to herself, while the young ones, which 

 were unable to fly, hid themselves. She whined like 

 a dog in great distress, and dragged herself along ap- 

 parently with the greatest difficulty. As I pursued 

 her, she ran very nimbly, and presently flew a few 

 yards. Then, as I went on, she flew farther and 

 farther each time, till at last she got up, and wen* 

 humming through the woods as if she had no interest 

 in them. I went back and caught one of the young 

 which had simply squatted close to the leaves. I 

 took it up and set it on the palm of my hand, which 



