and
knapsack forbade me doing this.

The day was advancing, and darkness would come on before I could get to
the shore of the lake, so I again turned and made my way over the
mountain till I got above the fall; from thence, with infinite labour
and at no little risk, I ultimately succeeded in reaching the level
ground. I had now to go round the base of the mountain in order to reach
the lake; but the distance was considerable, and I could scarcely hope
to reach it before nightfall. I felt, therefore, that it would be
prudent to look out for a spot for camping. A grove of trees of no great
extent was before me, and their trunks would afford shelter; but what
about a fire? My flint and steel I had incautiously left in my knapsack,
but I had a small burning-glass which one of our visitors at the farm
had given me. I had seldom made use of it, but I had put it in my
pocket, with the few valuables I possessed, on the night we left Roaring
Water. As the sun had disappeared, that, however, would be of no use for
the present; so I arrived at the unsatisfactory conclusion that I must
pass the night without food or fire.

CHAPTER XI.

ALONE IN THE FOREST--AWAKENED BY THE CRY OF A PANTHER--THE
BRUTE DISCOVERS ME--I TAKE REFUGE IN A TREE--THE PANTHER
DISAPPEARS--A VISIT TO THE LAKE--VAIN EFFORTS TO RECOVER MY
RIFLE AND KNAPSACK--I CONTINUE TOWARDS THE WEST, HOPING TO MEET
MY FRIENDS--MORE SULPHUR SPRINGS--NEARLY OVERWHELMED BY A MUD
VOLCANO--A POISONOUS VALLEY--CAUGHT IN A SNOW-STORM--BUILD A
HUT--MY FARE, THISTLE ROOTS--MAKE TRAPS AND A
FISHING-LINE--SALLY FORTH--CATCH THREE BEAVERS--FIND ANOTHER
LAKE--SALMON-TROUT CAUGHT--CONTINUE DOWN A RIVER, AND COME UPON
A NUMBER OF MAGNIFICENT GEYSERS--AM ABOUT TO TAKE UP MY ABODE
IN A GROTTO, WHEN A HOT SPRING RISES FROM IT--I SHIFT MY
QUARTERS--PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SOLITARY NIGHT--I HEAR A SHOT,
AND A WOUNDED DEER BOUNDS NEAR ME.

My exertions had made me hungry. Recollecting the amount of animal life
which abounded in that region, however, I had no great fear of starving
altogether, for if I could not shoot I might trap animals. I hoped,
however, to be able to rejoin my companions the following day, when my
wants would be supplied, so that I was not much out of spirits. Should I
fail to trap game at any time, or should I fail to meet my companions
even for some days, there were, I remembered, roots of various sor