the complete writings-3-第17章

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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：　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：　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；　while　we　stood　and　waited　the　waning　of　the　day；　and　peered　forward　in　vain　for　any　sign　of　an　open　country。　　At　every　brook　we　encountered；　we　suggested　a　halt　for　the　night；　while　it　was　still　light　enough　to　select　a　camping…place；　but　the　plucky　old　man　wouldn't　hear　of　it：　the　trail　might　be　only　a　quarter　of　a　mile　ahead；　and　we　crawled　on　again　at　a　snail's　pace。　　His　honor　as　a　guide　seemed　to　be　at　stake；　and；　besides；　he　confessed　to　a　notion　that　his　end　was　near；　and　he　didn't　want　to　die　like　a　dog　in　the　woods。　　And　yet；　if　this　was　his　last　journey；　it　seemed　not　an　inappropriate　ending　for　the　old　woodsman　to　lie　down　and　give　up　the　ghost　in　the　midst　of　the　untamed　forest　and　the　solemn　silences　he　felt　most　at　home　in。　　There　is　a　popular　theory；　held　by　civilians；　that　a　soldier　likes　to　die　in　battle。　　I　suppose　it　is　as　true　that　a　woodsman　would　like　to　〃pass　in　his　chips；〃the　figure　seems　to　be　inevitable；　struck　down　by　illness　and　exposure；　in　the　forest　solitude；　with　heaven　in　sight　and　a　tree…root　for　his　pillow。

The　guide　seemed　really　to　fear　that；　if　we　did　not　get　out　of　the　woods　that　night；　he　would　never　go　out；　and；　yielding　to　his　dogged　resolution；　we　kept　on　in　search　of　the　trail；　although　the　gathering　of　dusk　over　the　ground　warned　us　that　we　might　easily　cross　the　trail　without　recognizing　it。　　We　were　traveling　by　the　light　in　the　upper　sky；　and　by　the　forms　of　the　tree…stems；　which　every　moment　grew　dimmer。　　At　last　the　end　came。　　We　had　just　felt　our　way　over　what　seemed　to　be　a　little　run　of　water；　when　the　old　man　sunk　down；　remarking；　〃I　might　as　well　die　here　as　anywhere；〃　and　was　silent。

Suddenly　night　fell　like　a　blanket　on　us。　　We　could　neither　see　the　guide　nor　each　other。　　We　became　at　once　conscious　that　miles　of　night　on　all　sides　shut　us　in。　　The　sky　was　clouded　over：　there　wasn't　a　gleam　of　light　to　show　us　where　to　step。　　Our　first　thought　was　to　build　a　fire；　which　would　drive　back　the　thick　darkness　into　the　woods；　and　boil　some　water　for　our　tea。　　But　it　was　too　dark　to　use　the　axe。　　We　scraped　together　leaves　and　twigs　to　make　a　blaze；　and；　as　this　failed；　such　dead　sticks　as　we　could　find　by　groping　about。　　The　fire　was　only　a　temporary　affair；　but　it　sufficed　to　boil　a　can　of　water。　　The　water　we　obtained　by　feeling　about　the　stones　of　the　little　run　for　an　opening　big　enough　to　dip　our　cup　in。　　The　supper　to　be　prepared　was　fortunately　simple。　　It　consisted　of　a　decoction　of　tea　and　other　leaves　which　had　got　into　the　pail；　and　a　part　of　a　loaf　of　bread。　　A　loaf　of　bread　which　has　been　carried　in　a　knapsack　for　a　couple　of　days；　bruised　and　handled　and　hacked　at　with　a　hunting…knife；　becomes　an　uninteresting　object。　　But　we　ate　of　it　with　thankfulness；　washed　it　down　with　hot　fluid；　and　bitterly　thought　of　the　morrow。　　Would　our　old　friend　survive　the　night？　Would　he　be　in　any　condition　to　travel　in　the　morning？　　How　were　we　to　get　out　with　him　or　without　him？

The　old　man　lay　silent　in　the　bushes　out　of　sight；　and　desired　only　to　be　let　alone。　　We　tried　to　tempt　him　with　the　offer　of　a　piece　of　toast：　it　was　no　temptation。　　Tea　we　thought　would　revive　him：　he　refused　it。　　A　drink　of　brandy　would　certainly　quicken　his　life：　he　couldn't　touch　it。　　We　were　at　the　end　of　our　resources。　　He　seemed　to　think　that　if　he　were　at　home；　and　could　get　a　bit　of　fried　bacon；　or　a　piece　of　pie；　he　should　be　all　right。　　We　knew　no　more　how　to　doctor　him　than　if　he　had　been　a　sick　bear。　　He　withdrew　within　himself；　rolled　himself　up；　so　to　speak；　in　his　primitive　habits；　and　waited　for　the　healing　power　of　nature。　　Before　our　feeble　fire　disappeared；　we　smoothed　a　level　place　near　it　for　Phelps　to　lie　on；　and　got　him　over　to　it。　　But　it　didn't　suit：　it　was　too　open。　　In　fact；　at　the　moment　some　drops　of　rain　fell。　　Rain　was　quite　outside　of　our　program　for　the　night。　　But　the　guide　had　an　instinct　about　it；　and；　while　we　were　groping　about　some　yards　distant　for　a　place　where　we　could　lie　down；　he　crawled　away　into　the　darkness；　and　curled　himself　up　amid　the　roots　of　a　gigantic　pine；　very　much　as　a　bear　would　do；　I　suppose；　with　his　back　against　the　trunk；　and　there　passed　the　night　comparatively　dry　and　comfortable；　but　of　this　we　knew　nothing　till　morning；　and　had　to　trust　to　the　assurance　of　a　voice　out　of　the　darkness　that　he　was　all　right。

Our　own　bed　where　we　spread　our　blankets　was　excellent　in　one　respect；there　was　no　danger　of　tumbling　out　of　it。　　At　first　the　rain　pattered　gently　on　the　leaves　overhead；　and　we　congratulated　ourselves　on　the　snugness　of　our　situation。　　There　was　something　cheerful　about　this　free　life。　　We　contrasted　our　condition　with　that　of　tired　invalids　who　were　tossing　on　downy　beds；　and　wooing　sleep　in　vain。　　Nothing　was　so　wholesome　and　invigorating　as　this　bivouac　in　the　forest。　　But；　somehow；　sleep　did　not　come。　　The　rain　had　ceased　to　patter；　and　began　to　fall　with　a　steady　determination；　a　sort　of　soak；　soak；　all　about　us。　　In　fact；　it　roared　on　the　rubber　blanket；　and　beat　in　our　faces。　　The　wind　began　to　stir　a　little；　and　there　was　a　moaning　on　high。　　Not　contented　with　dripping；　the　rain　was　driven　into　our　faces。　　Another　suspicious　circumstance　was　noticed。　Little　rills　of　water　got　established　along　the　sides　under　the　blankets；　cold；　undeniable　streams；　that　interfered　with　drowsiness。　Pools　of　water　settled　on　the　bed；　and　the　chaplain　had　a　habit　of　moving　suddenly；　and　letting　a　quart　or　two　inside；　and　down　my　neck。　It　began　to　be　evident　that　we　and　our　bed　were　probably　the　wettest　objects　in　the　woods。　　The　rubber　was　an　excellent　catch…all。　　There　was　no　trouble　about　ventilation；　but　we　found　that　we　had　established　our　quarters　without　any　provision　for　drainage。　　There　was　not　exactly　a　wild　tempest　abroad；　but　there　was　a　degree　of　liveliness　in　the　thrashing　limbs　and　the　creaking　of　the　tree…　branches　which　rubbed　against　each　other；　and　the　pouring　rain　increased　in　volume　and　power　of　penetration。　　Sleep　was　quite　out　of　the　question；　with　so　much　to　distract　our　attention。　　In　fine；　our　misery　became　so　perfect　that　we　both　broke　out　into　loud　and　sarcastic　laughter　over　the　absurdity　of　our　situation。　　We　had　subjected　ourselves　to　all　this　forlornness　simply　for　pleasure。　Whether　Old　Phelps　was　still　in　existence；　we　couldn't　tell：　we　could　get　no　response　from　him。　　With　daylight；　if　he　continued　ill　and　could　not　move；　our　situation　would　be　little　improved。　　Our　supplies　were　gone；　we　lay　in　a　pond；　a　deluge　of　water　was　pouring　down　on　us。　　This　was　summer　recreation。　　The　whole　thing　was　so　excessively　absurd　that　we　laughed　again；　louder　than　ever。　　We　had　plenty　of　this　sort　of　amusement。　　Suddenly　through　the　night　we　heard　a　sort　of　reply　that　started　us　bolt　upright。　　This　was　a　prolonged　squawk。　It　was　like　the　voice　of　no　beast　or　bird　with　which　we　were　familiar。　　At　first　it　was　distant；　but　it　rapidly　approached；　tearing　through　the　night　and　apparently　through　the　tree…tops；　like　the　harsh　cry　of　a　web…footed　bird　with　a　snarl　in　it；　in　fact；　as　I　said；　a　squawk。　　It　came　close　to　us；　and　then　turned；　and　as　rapidly　as　it　came　fled　away　through　the　forest；　and　we　l