86 AT THE NORTH OF BEARCAMP WATER. 
Ledges, on winch the bear had been shot. As 
one looks at Chocorua from the south, its peak 
seems to rest upon the shoulders of two converg¬ 
ing ridges, one sloping upward towards it from 
the southeast, and one from the southwest. Be¬ 
tween the two ridges the soft forest drapery of 
the mountain falls in graceful folds and curves 
to the level of the lake. We were in one of 
these folds, climbing towards the steep inner 
side of the western ridge. On each side of us 
lofty trees clung to the slopes of the valley. 
Owls hoot in these woods after twilight and at 
dawn. Great boulders lie in confusion in the 
perpetual shadows of the trees, and in the cav¬ 
erns between and under them are dens of por¬ 
cupines, foxes, and skunks. 
Not until we reached the torrent at the foot 
of the west ridge was the wagon abandoned and 
the horse tethered. The forest at this point 
consists mainly of poplars, birches, and oaks. 
The bear-slayer led the way through them, and 
his more muscular satellite followed at his heels, 
cutting saplings in order to form a path for 
our descent with the bear. After climbing sev¬ 
eral hundred feet, we rested. A loud humming 
filled the air, yet no bees were to be seen. 
They appeared to be in the higher foliage, at¬ 
tracted by something on the leaves. We ex¬ 
amined the lower branches, and then the leaves 
