Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure.: with Descriptions of lumbering operations on the various; rivers of Maine and New BrunswickSpringer, John S.
History
Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure.: with Descriptions of lumbering operations on the various; rivers of Maine and New Brunswick
Springer, John S.
Lumbering -- Maine; Maine -- Description and travel; New Brunswick -- Description and travel; Trees
"That Sabbath was our delight, even in the face of a possible
deficiency in food. But the course adopted imparted bodily rest and a
peaceful mind.
"We had traveled with burdens on our backs twenty-five miles--crossed
several streams--climbed rough hills--walked on rocky places--tumbled
over huge trunks of fallen trees--crowded through plenty of jungle--waded
the Avalanche Brook--and all this in forbidding weather; but, aside
from the glorious view on the summit of Ktaadn, our toil found its
recompense in the novelty and influence of a Sabbath observance on
such an elevation, and amid the wild scenes and solitudes of a
mountain forest.
"Scarcity of food, and the engagements of some of the party, made it
necessary on Monday morning to start for home. We left the camp about
half past nine, following down the brook to the point from whence we
ascended, and then direct to the lake.
"'At this time,' says our guide, 'we fell into much confusion on
account of two of the company who were missing, the gunner and Mr.
Meservey, for whom we made search, but in vain. Few can imagine our
feelings save those who have heard the cry of _lost_ coming up
from the deep gloom of the wilderness in the native tone of some
wanderer calling for help. After consultation, it was resolved that we
must leave the ground for home, hoping for the best. We left at one,
and came to the lake at four P.M., and here, to our great joy, we saw
a smoke on the opposite side, near the outlet, and at five rejoined
our missing companions. They had caught trout enough for us all,
weighing from one to three pounds. With these, and cranberry-sauce in
plenty, also bread, pork, and tea, we made merry around a cheerful
fire. That night, however, a storm of rain coming up, found us poorly
prepared.'
"In this connection an incident may be related. Just before our
arrival, while the gunner was fishing, suddenly two moose bounded
furiously into the lake, and appeared to be swimming toward him.
Though all along desirous of an interview, their visit was rather too
startling. He scampered with all haste to the shore, seized his gun
and fired, but the balls would not go through the '_law_,' which
at that season afforded protection, and so the moose escaped.
[Illustration: NORTHEAST VIEW OF MOUNT KTAADN, FROM THE WEST BRANCH
OF THE PENOBSCOT.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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