
          
230.

* The boots no doubt were a small roll of tar paper, the overcoat
no doubt an old curtain which had been put up to keep out the snow.

soon learned that he was the man we wanted to see.  He
soon gave us all particulars, described the hut and the place
where it was, and we learned, only too well, that our retreat
was known.  He told us his boy had been there, only a few
days ago and had seen in it a pair of boots and an overcoat.*
He didn't seem to know much about it being the work
of robbers, thought perhaps boys had built it.

We now went our usual route towards the pump-house,
followed the road to the dam and then to Mr. Tyson's house.
Here we got our bearings, learned where Mr. S.'s place was
and saw the chimney of his house through the trees, and
learned also where Mr. Kuhne's [Cooney] place was.  Crossing Mr. T's
place [field] we found Draba verna in great profusion.  We took
the direction towards K's. On our way we passed a very
large and beautiful beech.  Its leaf (?) buds were greatly elongated
and the tree was therefore almost leafless.  Later, while in the
ravine, in a part nearly covered with beeches, we see the ground
almost covered with the leaves -- another fall has arrived and
nature again spreads over the ground a clean carpet.

Near this large beech we startled a covey of partridges.
        