A DAY WITH A NATURE GUIDE 189 



nor in the world. Being so well shielded and hav- 

 ing an inexhaustible food supply in the boundless 

 forests, he has not developed his wit. 



Up and on the party went, except a man and 

 woman who lingered to watch porky. In the edge 

 of the woods the guide stopped to wait for the 

 stragglers. But plainly panic-stricken at being 

 separated from the party, they were just disap- 

 pearing in the woods, headed north. Asking the 

 others not to stir until he returned the guide 

 dashed after them. 



On reuniting the party the guide discussed the 

 necessity of all staying together. "Most people, ,, 

 he said, "are easily confused and lose their direc- 

 tion. Thus it is bad for one to forge ahead, or to 

 turn aside, or to stay behind. Moving together is 

 absolutely necessary for the happiness of the 

 party. 



"Once," he continued, "a capable fellow said 

 he would go ahead and wait for us at the foot of a 

 near-by cliff. He never reached the cliff. While 

 looking for him others of the party scattered and 

 each and all were lost, and remained out over 

 night." 



A little before noon they walked out of the up- 

 permost edge of the woods among the dwarfed 

 trees and distorted groves at timberline — an aged 

 and battered forest, small and strange. They 

 were above the altitude of eleven thousand feet. 



While they were resting the guide called atten- 



