the complete writings-3-µÚ18²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
At¡¡daylight¡¡we¡¡were¡¡astir£»¡¡and£»¡¡having¡¡pressed¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡into¡¡our¡¡service¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡pot¡¡of¡¡tea£»¡¡we¡¡carefully¡¡extinguished¡¡it¡¡or¡¡sent¡¡it¡¡into¡¡another¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡addressed¡¡ourselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡climb¡¡of¡¡some¡¡thing¡¡over¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡arduous¡¡labor¡¡of¡¡scaling¡¡an¡¡Alpine¡¡peak¡¡has¡¡a¡¡compensating¡¡glory£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡lift¡¡of¡¡our¡¡bodies¡¡up¡¡Nipple¡¡Top¡¡had¡¡no¡¡stimulus¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sort¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡simply¡¡hard¡¡work£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡the¡¡strained¡¡muscles¡¡only¡¡get¡¡the¡¡approbation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡individual¡¡conscience¡¡that¡¡drives¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡task¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡such¡¡an¡¡ascent¡¡is¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡suspect¡¡consists¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡in¡¡positive¡¡enjoyment¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡delight¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡experiences¡¡in¡¡tyrannizing¡¡over¡¡the¡¡body¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡object¡¡to¡¡the¡¡elevation¡¡of¡¡this¡¡mountain£»¡¡nor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡uncommonly¡¡steep¡¡grade¡¡by¡¡which¡¡it¡¡attains¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡obstacles¡¡thrown¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡climber¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡Nipple¡¡Top¡¡are¡¡hirsute¡¡and¡¡jagged¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡degree¡£¡¡¡¡Granite¡¡ledges¡¡interpose£»¡¡granite¡¡bowlders¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡dumped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡with¡¡no¡¡more¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡arrangement¡¡than¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rip¡rap¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡slashes¡¡and¡¡windfalls¡¡of¡¡a¡¡century¡¡present¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡impenetrable¡¡chevalier¡¡des¡¡arbres£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡sides¡¡bristle¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡thick¡¡balsams£»¡¡with¡¡dead£»¡¡protruding¡¡spikes£»¡¡as¡¡unyielding¡¡as¡¡iron¡¡stakes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mountain¡¡has¡¡had¡¡its¡¡own¡¡way¡¡forever£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡as¡¡untamed¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wolf£»¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡the¡¡elements£»¡¡the¡¡frightful¡¡tempests£»¡¡the¡¡frosts£»¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡snows£»¡¡the¡¡coaxing¡¡sun£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡avalanches¡¡have¡¡had¡¡their¡¡way¡¡with¡¡it¡¡until¡¡its¡¡surface¡¡is¡¡in¡¡hopeless¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡made¡¡our¡¡way¡¡very¡¡slowly£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡¡before¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡what¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡summit£»¡¡a¡¡ridge¡¡deeply¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡moss£»¡¡low¡¡balsams£»¡¡and¡¡blueberry¡bushes¡£
I¡¡say£»¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡thick¡¡fog¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡clouds¡¡which¡¡limited¡¡our¡¡dim¡¡view¡¡to¡¡a¡¡radius¡¡of¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡cheerful¡¡fog£»¡¡stirred¡¡by¡¡little¡¡wind£»¡¡but¡¡moving£»¡¡shifting£»¡¡and¡¡boiling¡¡as¡¡by¡¡its¡¡own¡¡volatile¡¡nature£»¡¡rolling¡¡up¡¡black¡¡from¡¡below¡¡and¡¡dancing¡¡in¡¡silvery¡¡splendor¡¡overhead¡¡As¡¡a¡¡fog¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡improved£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡medium¡¡for¡¡viewing¡¡the¡¡landscape¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡failure¡¡and¡¡we¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Sybarite¡¡couch¡¡of¡¡moss£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Russian¡¡bath£»¡¡to¡¡await¡¡revelations¡£
We¡¡waited¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡without¡¡change£»¡¡except¡¡an¡¡occasional¡¡hopeful¡¡lightness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡above£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spectral¡¡sun¡£¡¡¡¡Only¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡was¡¡this¡¡luminous¡¡promise¡¡vouchsafed¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡watched¡¡in¡¡intense¡¡excitement¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡it¡¡was¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡was¡¡so¡¡thin¡¡overhead¡¡that¡¡we¡¡caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡a¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡sky¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡square£»¡¡across¡¡which¡¡the¡¡curtain¡¡was¡¡instantly¡¡drawn¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡stirring£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡boiled¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡caldrons¡¡thicker¡¡than¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡spell¡¡was¡¡broken¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡more¡¡Old¡¡Phelps¡¡was¡¡shouting£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡sun£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡gain¡¡our¡¡feet¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡sky¡¡overhead¡¡as¡¡big¡¡as¡¡a¡¡farm¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨See£¡¡¡quick£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡dancing¡¡like¡¡a¡¡lunatic¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡rift¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vapor¡¡at¡¡our¡¡feet£»¡¡down£»¡¡down£»¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡abyss£»¡¡and¡¡lo£¡¡¡lifting¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡yonder¡¡the¡¡tawny¡¡side¡¡of¡¡Dix£»the¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second£»¡¡snatched¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rolling¡¡fog¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡play¡¡had¡¡just¡¡begun¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡turn£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡gorge¡¡of¡¡Caribou¡¡Pass£»¡¡savage¡¡and¡¡dark£»¡¡visible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bottom¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡opening¡¡shut¡¡as¡¡suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡looking¡¡over¡¡the¡¡clouds£»¡¡miles¡¡away¡¡we¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡peaceful¡¡farms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Au¡¡Sable¡¡Valley£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡more¡¡the¡¡plateau¡¡of¡¡North¡¡Elba¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sentinel¡¡mountains¡¡about¡¡the¡¡grave¡¡of¡¡John¡¡Brown¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡glimpses¡¡were¡¡as¡¡fleeting¡¡as¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡instantly¡¡we¡¡were¡¡again¡¡isolated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡mist¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡expectation¡¡of¡¡these¡¡sudden¡¡strokes¡¡of¡¡sublimity¡¡kept¡¡us¡¡exultingly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡alert£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡of¡¡surprise¡¡when¡¡the¡¡curtain¡¡was¡¡swiftly¡¡withdrawn¡¡on¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡long¡¡ridge¡¡of¡¡Colvin£»¡¡seemingly¡¡within¡¡a¡¡stone's¡¡throw£»¡¡heaved¡¡up¡¡like¡¡an¡¡island¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ocean£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡the¡¡next¡¡moment¡¡ingulfed¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡waited¡¡longer¡¡for¡¡Dix¡¡to¡¡show¡¡its¡¡shapely¡¡peak¡¡and¡¡its¡¡glistening¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡gashed¡¡by¡¡avalanches¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fantastic¡¡clouds£»¡¡torn¡¡and¡¡streaming£»¡¡hurried¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south¡¡in¡¡haste¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡a¡¡witch's¡¡rendezvous£»¡¡hiding¡¡and¡¡disclosing¡¡the¡¡great¡¡summit¡¡in¡¡their¡¡flight¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mist¡¡boiled¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡whirled¡¡over¡¡the¡¡summit¡¡where¡¡we¡¡stood£»¡¡and¡¡plunged¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the¡¡depths¡£¡¡¡¡Objects¡¡were¡¡forming¡¡and¡¡disappearing£»¡¡shifting¡¡and¡¡dancing£»¡¡now¡¡in¡¡sun¡¡and¡¡now¡¡gone¡¡in¡¡fog£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡elemental¡¡whirl¡¡we¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡¡¨assisting¡¨¡¡in¡¡an¡¡original¡¡process¡¡of¡¡creation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡strove£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡very¡¡striving¡¡called¡¡up¡¡new¡¡vapors£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡rent¡¡away¡¡the¡¡clouds£»¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡new¡¡masses¡¡to¡¡surge¡¡about¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spectacle¡¡to¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left£»¡¡above¡¡and¡¡below£»¡¡changed¡¡with¡¡incredible¡¡swiftness¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡abyss¡¡and¡¡summit£»¡¡of¡¡color¡¡and¡¡form¡¡and¡¡transformation£»¡¡is¡¡seldom¡¡granted¡¡to¡¡mortal¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡we¡¡watched¡¡it¡¡until¡¡our¡¡vast¡¡mountain¡¡was¡¡revealed¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡bulk£»¡¡its¡¡long¡¡spurs£»¡¡its¡¡abysses¡¡and¡¡its¡¡savagery£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡great¡¡basins¡¡of¡¡wilderness¡¡with¡¡their¡¡shining¡¡lakes£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡peaks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡region£»¡¡were¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡disclosed£»¡¡and¡¡hidden¡¡and¡¡again¡¡tranquil¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡£
Where¡¡was¡¡the¡¡cave£¿¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡ample¡¡surface¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡could¡¡have¡¡flitted¡¡about£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡hawks¡¡that¡¡came¡¡circling¡¡round£»¡¡over¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡slopes£»¡¡the¡¡long¡¡spurs£»¡¡the¡¡jagged¡¡precipices£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡we¡¡should¡¡have¡¡found¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡moving¡¡about¡¡on¡¡this¡¡mountain¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡holiday¡¡pastime£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡chiefly¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡a¡¡practicable¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡descent¡¡into¡¡the¡¡great¡¡wilderness¡¡basin¡¡on¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡must¡¡traverse¡¡that¡¡afternoon¡¡before¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡hospitable¡¡shanty¡¡on¡¡Mud¡¡Pond¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡have¡¡discovered¡¡the¡¡general¡¡whereabouts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spanish¡¡Cave£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡left¡¡the¡¡fixing¡¡of¡¡its¡¡exact¡¡position¡¡to¡¡future¡¡explorers¡£
The¡¡spur¡¡we¡¡chose¡¡for¡¡our¡¡escape¡¡looked¡¡smooth¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡found¡¡it¡¡bristling¡¡with¡¡obstructions£»¡¡dead¡¡balsams¡¡set¡¡thickly¡¡together£»¡¡slashes¡¡of¡¡fallen¡¡timber£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡woody¡¡chaos£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡at¡¡length¡¡we¡¡swung¡¡and¡¡tumbled¡¡off¡¡the¡¡ledge¡¡to¡¡the¡¡general¡¡slope£»¡¡we¡¡exchanged¡¡only¡¡for¡¡more¡¡disagreeable¡¡going¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡slope¡¡for¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡was¡¡steep¡¡enough£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡formed¡¡of¡¡granite¡¡rocks¡¡all¡¡moss¡covered£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡footing¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡determined£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡short¡¡intervals¡¡we¡¡nearly¡¡went¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡¡in¡¡holes¡¡under¡¡the¡¡treacherous¡¡carpeting¡£¡¡¡¡Add¡¡to¡¡this¡¡that¡¡stems¡¡of¡¡great¡¡trees¡¡were¡¡laid¡¡longitudinally¡¡and¡¡transversely¡¡and¡¡criss¡cross¡¡over¡¡and¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡can¡¡see¡¡that¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡work¡¡needs¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡to¡¡make¡¡this¡¡a¡¡practicable¡¡highway¡¡for¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡a¡¡squirrel¡£¡£¡£¡£
We¡¡had¡¡had¡¡no¡¡water¡¡since¡¡our¡¡daylight¡¡breakfast£º¡¡our¡¡lunch¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡had¡¡been¡¡moistened¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fog¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡thirst¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Tantalus£»¡¡because¡¡we¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡water¡¡running¡¡deep¡¡down¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡could¡¡not¡¡come¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡imagination¡¡drank¡¡the¡¡living¡¡stream£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡realized¡¡anew¡¡what¡¡delusive¡¡food¡¡the¡¡imagination¡¡furnishes¡¡in¡¡an¡¡actual¡¡strait¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crime¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡convinced£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡direct¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unlicensed¡¡play¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imagination¡¡in¡¡adverse¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡reflection¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡our¡¡actual¡¡situation£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡added¡¡to¡¡our¡¡imagination¡¡patience£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡our¡¡patience¡¡long¡suffering£»¡¡and¡¡probably¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡virtues¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡developed¡¡in¡¡us¡¡if¡¡the¡¡descent¡¡had¡¡been¡¡long¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡Caribou¡¡Pass£»¡¡the¡¡water¡¡burst¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡in¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡was¡¡as¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡ice¡£¡¡¡¡Shortly¡¡after£»¡¡we¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡roaring¡¡brook¡¡that¡¡issues¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Pass¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡stream¡¡full¡¡of¡¡character£»¡¡not¡¡navigable¡¡even¡¡for¡¡trout¡¡in¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡part£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡succession¡¡of¡¡falls£»¡¡cascades£»¡¡flumes£»¡¡and¡¡pools¡¡that¡¡would¡¡delight¡¡an¡¡artist¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡bed¡¡for¡¡anything¡¡except¡¡water¡¡to¡¡descend£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡level¡¡reaches£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡flows¡¡with¡¡a¡¡murmurous¡¡noise¡¡through¡¡open¡¡woods£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡our¡¡party¡¡began¡¡to¡¡show¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡exhaustion¡£
This¡¡was¡¡Old¡¡Phelps£»¡¡whose¡¡appetite¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before£»his¡¡imagination¡¡being¡¡in¡¡better¡¡working¡¡order¡¡than¡¡his¡¡stomach£º¡¡he¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡little¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡became¡¡so¡¡groggy¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡at¡¡short¡¡intervals¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡was¡¡a¡¡situation£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡afternoon¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡six¡¡or¡¡seven¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡unknown¡¡wilderness¡¡to¡¡traverse£»¡¡a¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡it¡¡swampy£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡a¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡is¡¡difficult£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guide¡¡compelled¡¡even¡¡a¡¡slower¡¡march¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡should¡¡we¡¡do¡¡in¡¡that¡¡lonesome¡¡solitude¡¡if¡¡the¡¡guide¡¡became¡¡disabled£¿¡¡¡¡We¡¡couldn't¡¡carry¡¡him¡¡out£»¡¡could¡¡we¡¡find¡¡our¡¡own¡¡way¡¡out¡¡to¡¡get¡¡assistance£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡guide¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡there¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡general¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡our¡¡point¡¡of¡¡egress£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡adequate¡¡to¡¡extricate¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡any¡¡position¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡was¡¡of¡¡that¡¡occult¡¡sort¡¡possessed¡¡by¡¡woodsmen¡¡which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡communicate¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡object¡¡was¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡a¡¡trail¡¡that¡¡led¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Au¡¡Sable¡¡Pond£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡range£»¡¡to¡¡an¡¡inlet¡¡on¡¡Mud¡¡Pond¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡if¡¡we¡¡traveled¡¡southwestward¡¡far¡¡enough¡¡we¡¡must¡¡strike¡¡that¡¡trail£»¡¡but¡¡how¡¡far£¿¡¡¡¡No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡tell¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡that¡¡trail£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡at¡¡the¡¡inlet£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡only¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡no¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡then¡¡we¡¡must¡¡circle¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡miles¡¡farther¡¡through¡¡a¡¡cedar¡swamp£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡trail¡¡in¡¡particular¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡prospect¡¡was¡¡not¡¡pleasing¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡short¡¡of¡¡supplies£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡had¡¡not¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡that¡¡night¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡excursion¡¡began¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡itself¡£
We¡¡stumbled¡¡on¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general¡¡direction¡¡marked¡¡out£»¡¡through¡¡a¡¡forest¡¡that¡¡began¡¡to¡¡seem¡¡endless¡¡as¡¡hour¡¡after¡¡hour¡¡passed£»¡¡compelled¡¡as¡¡we¡¡were¡¡to¡¡make¡¡long¡¡detours¡¡over¡¡the¡¡ridges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foothills¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡the¡¡swamp£»¡¡which¡¡sent¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡border¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡long¡¡tongues¡¡into¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡guide¡¡became¡¡more¡¡ill¡¡at¡¡every¡¡step£»¡¡and¡¡needed¡¡frequent¡¡halts¡¡and¡¡long¡¡rests¡£¡¡¡¡Food¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡eat£»¡¡and¡¡tea£»¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡brandy¡¡he¡¡rejected¡£¡¡¡¡Again¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡old¡¡philosopher£»¡¡enfeebled¡¡by¡¡excessive¡¡exertion¡¡and¡¡illness£»¡¡would¡¡collapse¡¡in¡¡a¡¡heap¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡comical¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡despair£»¡¡