Year: 1871

Of water in dry place and tho shadow
of great Rock in weary land" Ben
was in good condition to feel it, and as
for myself | mingled my greatful tears
with the drops OF the little spring; shall
see and hear its modest, merry bubbling
as long as live, ard even stoId Ben,
will not forget it But wc hastily push-
ed on up and on, until at last wo got to
tho top of the slide, i. c., above anything
like vegetation, save scant little shrubs,
and then came the tug cf war. For more
than quarter of mile nothing but great
bare, black, rugged, bouldcrs, mingled to-
gethcr in disorder, making anything like
a path out of the question; not yard
could be travelled without the help Of
hands, and often knees. Ofcourse there
was a choice as to which boulder you
would climb over, and then sagacity be-
gan to triumph over muscle. In emerg-
ing from the rocks, for we were often lost
to each other,I found my guide dropping
behind, and so put my foot on the top
a little in advance of him. A sweet cold
spring threw up its water just whereI noun
ted, and | drank and drank, and ate hard
bread and raw pork, then lay in my rubber
blanket for half an hour, and then another
view of forest and lakes,and such view
Then came the long back tramp. As we
struck the forest again Ben could not find
the little blaged trail and so he went on and
on following an old trail which l saw
made us walk three miles to get one a
head. BY this time (about half past five
o'clock) l became very tired, having had
only half an hours rest at the top, and or
dered halt, one blessing of having your
own guide; when adressed Ben in the
following calm but firm manner: "Ben,
We are going about three miles to make
one, this old trail you are continually
losing and hunting up,seems to have been
made on bet as to who could make the
crookedest one,I won't stand it any longer.
At this rate we shall have to lie down with.
out shelter in this swampall night,I have
taken the course from the campto the noun
tain and from mountain to camp with my
pocket compass; know the way straight
as an arrow. have been in as big woods
as these and can 60 to camp without any
guide now as long as your beloved old
old trail heads US southwest by west one
half west keep it, but when it starts of
on its crooked pranks let it 60" Mean
time halt for ten minutes and Ben made
no growl, but said, "Well I'll do just as
you say" for just at that time l had
neither strength nor inclination to parley
with anyone At 7 p. m, We emerged
from the woods and struck about half a


mile from its junction with the Penobscot
aud reached our camp. When we g, in
T., and his guide, looked at Us with open
eyes. Almost absolute exhaustion are
the words. We could eat no supper, my
guide threw himself on the ground just
as he was, boots, hat and Land no more
of him till morning my own prepara.
tion for bed was scarcely more. T., said
that groaned in the night, and I'm not
inclined to dispute him. Next morning
Ben's inner realm was in state of an-
archy; l gave him big dose of Jam.
aica ginger, which made him all right
Well, B., woald not 60 over that jaunt
again, in one day, for five hundred doll.
ars; rs guide told me that he had nc
idea Of seeing me Mat highland wonder.
ed how | stood it,. I thought Of you often
and of our climb up Killington, and as !
crept and climbed Katadin, ,longed for the
comparative pastime climbing Killingtou
would be. 1t generally takes three days
just the time it ought to take--frsl
day from Aball Jackanajus to the top ol
foot hills, then camp; second day, go up
the mountain and return to camp third
day, return to lake; and if ever you take
like journey into that delightful wild
and conclude to do "Katadin," take three
days, that will afford d" fatigue duty ;
enough, and still afford you pleasure, but
in one day, nerer try H.


That was grand trip. 1 was surprised
that with boots full of water all day Il
slipped into the rapids once. lying on we,
moss in swamps and out in rains &c., with
only hunting shirt on, not tho least cold
nor cough nor throat trouble (which
dreaded as sure to Gomez, l realized
nothing but health. Murray, to the con
trary Notwithstanding, l go for the Maine
woods. II he can tell as big trout story
as | can I'll try again. Its grand. l wisi
we could 60 together, for you are an old
sojourner there and know where tn,
"Deacons seat" in tho logging camp is