es,
as they were likely to have got damp, and might fail us at a pinch.
Being unwilling to encamp in the forest altogether, though we all
greatly required rest, we resolved to push on until we could reach more
open ground where water was to be obtained.

To save my companions labour, as I was a more practised backwoodsman
than either of them, I offered to go ahead and try to find the shortest
way out of the forest. How far it might be, I could not tell; but I had
hopes that the forest in which we were might prove to be only a belt of
trees on the shore of the lake.

It did not occur to me as possible that my companions could miss my
trail. I shouted now and then, however, but did not hear their voices
in reply, the forest being so dense that sounds could not penetrate far
through it I went on and on, feeling sure that I was directing my course
to the westward. The ground rose more and more, too, in some places
rather abruptly, but still covered with a dense growth of trees, and
soon I found that I was mounting a hill. The path was more easy than at
first, however, there being but few fallen trunks, so I made much better
progress.

"I must get out of this," at last I said to myself; and so I continued
moving on, occasionally notching a tree with my axe, if I thought my
trail was not sufficiently distinct. "Of course they will follow," I
thought more than once. I did not, indeed, entertain a doubt about it.

I had reached the top of the hill, but the trees were too high to enable
me to see any of the country around. I could judge by the direction of
the sun's rays, however,--which had now drawn round, and were striking
in my face,--that I was steering westward, as before. I occasionally
stopped and looked back, expecting that my friends would overtake me;
and although I did not see them, I felt so sure that they must be close
behind that I continued my course.

On and on I went, when again I found myself descending, and thus knew
that I had crossed over a hill of some height; still the trees prevented
me from getting a view of the country beyond. At last I came to some
marshy ground of a similar character to that which I had met on the
other side of the lake, with sulphur springs in the centre. I had
therefore to make a detour to avoid it, but as the tall trees which grew
on the surrounding hills would not allow me to get a view of the
country, I could not determine in what direction to steer my course. I