THE MTJLE DEER. 155 



anything I say or do, for it would confuse me, and then we 

 are lost indeed. I will do my best, but there was never 

 greater need." 



I can see him now, his tall form drawn up, his features 

 working with agitation, and his hunter's eye unsettled 

 and wavering, instead of fixed in an intensity which often 

 gave him actual pain for days after a hunt. I said: 



' ' Bates, before , I take up silence, let me say this: We 

 are now On an ascent, though very gradual; by keeping up 

 it as long as it continues, it must bring us to some ridge- 

 crest or hill-top, which is our only chance for an outlook if 

 the fog should break a little." 



" It is a good thought," said he, "and may save us." 



We worked out of the firs slowly, up into clearer ground; 

 up still higher, into huge rocks which told of a summit 

 near; then to the summit itself. No hunting now. Elk, 

 Deer, Bear, might- have freely crossed our track un- 

 scathed. We were busied about ourselves. No outlook, 

 even from the summit we had attained; all was enveloped 

 in fog as thick as night, although it was barely noon. 

 Bates said: 



"I will climb that fir; perhaps I can see from above." 



Sixty feet he went up the dark, rough trunk, and clung 

 among the branches. No outlook still. 



" Bates, may I speak % " 



" Yes, father, for I am all at sea ! " 



I never before or since heard him speak in the tone in 

 which these words came down to me. 



"Well, just beyond the top of the fir you are in is 

 the faintest show of more light in the fog than elsewhere. 

 If so, that is the sun, and that is south, for it is noon." 



"Then," he said, pointing his finger, "that is east, and 

 there is our camp. Now, don't lose the direction till I get 

 down, for I can't keep it up here." 



He came down; I gave him the direction — it was all our 

 hope. By keeping near objects directly ahead of us, and 

 moving carefully from one to another, an hour brought us to 

 a black cattle-horse standing at Ms stake, with head droop- 



