282 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



they would remain within a short circle oi'this spot, feeding 

 on the buds and variety of herbs about it, until the approach 

 of dawn, when, instead of departing for other places, they 

 would make their lair in the immediate neighbourhood un- 

 til the next evening. Under these circumstances, I often 

 very cautiously approached the favoured spot, and surprised 

 several deer during the day time, and seldom returned 

 without killing one, and sometimes more — hence my rea- 

 son for making it an invariable rule during my excursions 

 to visit the springs. At the salt lick there was a particular 

 spot more visited than all others by the deer, and into 

 this, within a circle of twelve feet, I had, in five successive 

 seasons, shot eight)'-three deer, most of which fell within 

 these bounds; and in order to allow for the variable winds, 

 and prevent the animals from scenting me, I had three logs 

 in different positions, behind which I would ensconse my- 

 self and there await the approach of the unsuspecting game. 

 On the day of my present adventure I had kept the summit 

 of the mountain for several miles, without success, for a breeze 

 had arisen shortly after sun rise which rattled through the 

 trees, and made it unfavourable for hunting on high ground, 

 and indeed the only wild animal I saw, was a bear, that was 

 feeding on another ridge across a deep valley, and entirely 

 out of reach of my rifle shot; I therefore descended the 

 mountain in an oblique direction, towards the salt springs 

 which I soon reached, and after finding others had pre- 

 ceded me here, I left the spot for another mountain on 

 wliich I intended to pass the remainder of the day, gradu- 

 ally working my way home. This mountain was covered 

 with chesnut trees, and here it was, that I caught a glimpse 

 of the bear, from the other ridge, and found he had disap- 

 peared but a short time previous to my arrival on this moun- 

 tain; I followed his track for three miles, for chesnuts lay 

 in abundance on the ground, and bears, like hogs, root up 

 the leaves in search of food beneath, and it no doubt had 

 lingered about here eating its food until my near approach 

 gave warning of its danger; this I could discover, as the 

 leaves having been wet by the melted frost on the top, a 

 path could be traced where the bear in running had turned 

 the dried part of the leaves uppermost. I quickened my 

 pace along the mountain side and around the turn of the 

 mountain, with tlic hopes of surprising the bear, and after a 

 rapid chase for the distance above mentioned, all proved fruit- 

 less and I relinquished further pursuit. Warm with this exer- 

 cise, and somewhat fatigued, I descended the mountain side, 

 and took my seat beside a stream of water which gently wash- 

 ed the base of the mountain, and emptied itself in the head 

 waters of the Susquehannah. 



It was now mid-day, and the sun shone, unobstructed by 

 clouds, on the beautiful sheet of transparent water, which flow- 

 ed its murmuring ripples at my feet. This stream was the out- 



let of a small but beautiful lake, which lay embedded be- 

 tween two lofty mountains, crowned with the variegated 

 tints of the autumn, while on the unruffled bosom of the lake, 

 as on a glassy mirror the dazzling brightness of the noon-day 

 sun, glistened with peculiar lustre, and gave additional in- 

 terest and beauty to the golden crowned hills, which tow- 

 ered their lofty summits toward the heavens. 



I sat eating chesnuts, with my rifle by my side, and amus- 

 ing myself with the shoals of little minnows, which kept edg- 

 ing their noses against the current; I would chewm}^ chesnuts 

 into crumbs, throw to them, and be delighted at their grace- 

 ful dexterity, in securing the scattered fragments as they float- 

 ed swiftly down the stream — then again I watched the eagles' 

 flight, as with outstretched pinions, he soared majestically 

 above the hills, with that independence and grandeur which 

 rank him king of birds — and then I raised my eyes to the 

 mountain tops, and wondered whether these were among 

 the everlasting hills, which nature, in her chaotic move- 

 ments, raised from the waters, and stamped on them a dura- 

 tion coequal with time. While thus communing with na- 

 ture, my mind was insensibly borne from the object which 

 first led me from my home; for what reflecting mind can 

 behold the surrounding beauties in the wilds of the forest, 

 which are intruded on his sight whithersoever he turns his 

 head, without having imparted to his feelings the serenity 

 and sublimity, which ever there abide during the autumnal 

 season of the year; the only noise which strikes the ear, is 

 the gurgling brook, which unceasingly runs its troubled 

 course, or the hollow roaring of some distant waterfall, 

 sometimes loud, and again dying gently into stillness, as 

 the passing zephyrs may vary or waft it to the ear; or the 

 mournful sounds of the northern breezes when agitating the 

 forests, and whirling the sear and yellow leaves from their 

 parent stems, and singing mournfully, the requiem of the 

 departing beauties of the vegetable world ; who, amid all 

 these, solitary and reflecting, but may be led on by a train of 

 thought, until his mind is involved in that deep contemplation 

 from which it requires more than ordinary means to extricate 

 it. This was my state, until I was aroused from my reverie 

 by that which comprises the chief part of my adventure. 



I had remained sitting on a fallen tree, whose branches 

 extended considerably into the water, for perhaps an hour 

 and a half, when of a sudden I heard a rustling among the 

 leaves on the mountain immediately above my head, which 

 at first was so distant, that I thought it merely an eddy of 

 the wind, whirling the leaves from the ground, but it in- 

 creased so rapidly, and approached so near the spot where 

 I sat, that I instinctively seized my rifle, ready in a moment 

 to meet any emergency which might ofler. 



That part of the mountain where I was seated, was cover- 

 ed with laurel and other bushes, and owing to the density 



