The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06

view, can go no farther and of all that gallant
band, only six are left to thread the mazes o.
the mountain torrent. We had heard from the
old settlers" that this stream has its source
in a lake, which is seen from Mount Lafayette
This lake lies on the east side of the ridge, and
just behind Mount Cannon, in the direction
and on the same range along which the stream
of the cascades flows. So, six of the party de
termined to explore the stream to its source.
1t is now halfpast eleven o'clock, and we Sc
out in good earnest in our pursuit. Provided witt
light luncheon, and box of matches, we fee
quite equal to any encounter. For another mile
the stream is still beautiful as ever, and oul
path lies, now on this side, now on that, now il
the middle, with the overcoming excitement
of leaping over chasms, or from rock to rock
or swinging over deep pools by the overhang
ing trees, or by the same means steadying ou
steps along the shelving rocks on the brink
AT halfpast twelve, we are at the forks of tn,
brook, for it is now nothing more; and, accord
ing to our directions, following the right fork
we have another hour of rather heavy Chamber
ly choked up with fallen timber. One of tn,
party climbs the height beyond, to see wha
can be seen, but finds nothing. There is NJ
lake in sight. And so we go up, up, to where
the stream seems to come out of the mountain
and the very rocks that lie piled above us are
covered thickly with soft green moss, and the
water, in little silvery stream, comes trickline
gently down. Once over this steep place, land
it is bad climbing on these messy rocks,) we GO
on for another quarter of an hour.
1t is now two o'clock, five hours since we set
out, and quite time for dinner. How pleasant
is the great, glowing fire, made of dry brush
and drift wood! A fat rock is our table, and
never was sweeter bread eaten than that we
share on the mountain top. Just tired enough
to feel the pleasure of rest, with the chill noun
tain air and our damp feet making the fire a
real luxury, we might inger around it for
hours, but the homeward path is long, and the
sun is already sinking westward of the heights
above; and so, after an hours refreshing rest,
we conclude to abandon the search, or, rather,
we have settled the question. There is no lake
at the head of the stream; it drains part of the
long ridge extending from the Notch, south
ward, to Mount Pemigewasset, and has its
source in mountain springs.
This question disposed of we close our de-
liberations, scatter our council fire, and begin
our downward march. However easy it may
be to go down hill under ordinary circumstan-
ces, let no one go up this mountain stream,
trusting in the old adage. Whether the "hinges
of the knee" will crook both ways with equal
ease, l cannot say but certainly we did not
walk so briskly for the first half hour, nor in
deed at any time with as much ease, on coming
down, as we did in going up. 1t was quite de-
lightful to get on level ground again but long
before we reached there, the sun had gone be.
hind the mountain, and its long shadows were
stretching over the valley, and climbing up
ward to the opposite summit of Mount Tom.
Our good cheer on the mountain gave lis
fresh spirits; and never did a merrier party
turn their faces homeward, at the end of five
hours walk. Losing as little time as possible
in sightseeing, we come rapidly down, pass the
forks of the stream, and so to the three cas-.
cades. A little expert sliding and dropping
down carries us over lodges that took some
what more time and strength to climb up, and
some Of our party found that it was much easie,
to slip on the smooth rocks, coming down, than
going up. But we must take our chance, and
on we push with desperate energy. Some oil
us come down dryshod and some slip in over
and over again. These little disasters are the
best part of the sport. There goes our tall
friend, knee-deep into the water, taking with
him one who hoped, by his aid, to keep out.
What picture they make, as, gathering them.
selves up, she wrings the water from the hem
of her skirts on one side, and he, his face quiv.
ering with halfsuppressed fun, performs the
same useful office for her on the other side
That bright manly-boy face will not soon be
forgotten. Farther on, we come to a deep
still pool, that lies under the side of a shelving
rock; we are to pass over this pool, on a rather
" shaky" decayed log but as it had carried
the large party in the morning safely over, we
do not think of fear. All have passed safely
but the two last the gentleman, a veteran
editor and well-known politician in New Hamp
shire, steps boldly on and when more than
half way over, calls the lady to "come on
She suspects the "plank," and says, decided
ly, "No, it will not bear both " Yes, it will
replies the fearless man of experiments, see II
and, suiting the action to the word, out he
springs to the middle of the log, and down il
goes with crash and plunge, planting our
friend, still on his feet, waist-deep in the
middle of the pool, where he stands for a mo
ment, looking up with such deprecatine
face, that says plainly, though not in words
Don't taught" But we do laugh and all the
more, when, on telling the story, we find it i.
not the first time he has ventured on a "shak,
plank and tried to get his friends on, too.
Cut in the smooth granite, as with MALE
and chisel, out of the solid rock, is the "Cap
tain's Basin" 1t is about five feet across, anG
two deep. Our sturdy veteran, Captain w.
who has trod the deck when the ship was near
ly on her beam ends, with firm foot and stead,
eye, is not quite so much at home on fresh as
salt water-on the mountain cascade, as tn,
wide ocean; slight trip on the rocky brim lay
him broadside" in the cool water. So hi,
bath is named the Captains Basin. There
were whispered reports that the highest func
tionary Of the State, who was one of our party
had measured his length and breadth in tina
mountain stream; but, malice, like death
loves shining mark I" So we pass that by
Right glad were we to find a carriage wait
ing for us at the road side. A short driv
brought us safely to our hotel at seven O'Clock
after nine hours steady walking up and dow
| the mountain torrent.