184 WAKE-ROBIN 
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 di- 
verted 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 un- 
able to fly, hid themselves. She whined like a dog 
in great distress, and dragged herself along appar- 
ently 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 went 
humming through the woods as if she had no inter- 
est 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 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 
possible 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 
