360 THE CAROLINA MOUNTAINS 
Back to Blowing Rock? No, indeed ; not even though 
you could return, part way at least, by another road. 
The Wanderlust is on you — the need of walking 
along the high valleys among the enchanted moun- 
tains. That seems the thing in life worth doing. As 
you leave Boone you notice a meadow white with 
ox-eye daisies, and among them big red clover-heads, 
and, if you please, clumps of black-eyed Susans — 
for all the world like a summer meadow in the New 
England hills. Ripe strawberries hang over the edge 
of the road. 
From Boone to Valle Crucis you must go the 
longest way, for so you get the best views, the people 
tell you. And so you go a day's walk to Valle Crucis, 
where the Episcopal settlement lies in the fine green 
little valley. 
From Valle Crucis to Banner Elk, under the Beech 
Mountain, is another day's walk, when again you 
take the longest way, up Dutch Creek to see the 
pretty waterfall there, and where the clematis is a 
white veil over the bushes, and up the steep road by 
Hanging Rock where the gold tree grows. This is an 
oak, known far and near because its top is always 
golden yellow. The leaves come out yellow in the 
spring, remain so all summer, and in the fall would 
doubtless turn yellow if they were not already that 
color. The people say there is a pot of gold buried 
at the roots, but this pleasant fancy has not taken 
a serious enough hold to menace the life of the tree. 
Stopping at a picturesque, old-time log house to 
rest, a little girl invites you to go to the top of Hang- 
