BIRCH BROWSINGS. 207 



it hugged as closely as if still upon the ground. I 

 then put it in my coatsleeve, when it ran and nestled 

 in my armpit. 



When we met at the sign of the smoke, opinions 

 differed as to the most feasible course. There was no 

 doubt but that we could get out of the woods ; but 

 we wished to get out speedily and as near as pos- 

 sible to the point where we had entered. Half 

 ashamed of our timidity and indecision, we finally 

 tramped away back to where we had crossed the 

 line of blazed trees, followed our old trail to the 

 spring on the top of the range, and, after much 

 searching and scouring to the right and left found 

 ourselves at the very place we had left two hours 

 before. Another deliberation and a divided council. 

 But something must be done. It was then mid-after- 

 noon, and the prospect of spending another night on 

 the mountains, without food or drink, was not pleas- 

 ant. So we moved down the ridge. Here another 

 line of marked trees was found, the course of which 

 formed an obtuse angle with the one we had followed. 

 It kept on the top of the ridge for perhaps a mile, 

 when it entirely disappeared, and we were as much 

 adrift as ever. Then one of the party swore on oath* 

 and said he was going out of those woods, hit or miss^ 

 *nd wheeling to the right, instantly plunged over 

 the brink of the mountain. The rest followed, but 

 would faiu have paused and ciphered away at their 

 awn uncertainties, to see if a certainty could not be 

 %rrived at as to where we would come out. But onr 



