Woods and waters: . the weird valkyriorof the Scandinavian Runes—arose. Up sprang these wildriders of the North, urging their rainbow-steeds far upthe steeps ; wielding their battle-axes, dashing their spears,and waving their banners in the magic tournament of thedark-blue field above. A moaning wind was in the forest when I awoke. Asombre sky greeted us, the lake looked grey and our morning meal the whole camp, except Corey,Harvey and myself, went to Perciefield Falls and Simons* Slew, for fishing and driving. I sat beside our tent and listened to the wind. A deso-late wail thr
Woods and waters: . the weird valkyriorof the Scandinavian Runes—arose. Up sprang these wildriders of the North, urging their rainbow-steeds far upthe steeps ; wielding their battle-axes, dashing their spears,and waving their banners in the magic tournament of thedark-blue field above. A moaning wind was in the forest when I awoke. Asombre sky greeted us, the lake looked grey and our morning meal the whole camp, except Corey,Harvey and myself, went to Perciefield Falls and Simons* Slew, for fishing and driving. I sat beside our tent and listened to the wind. A deso-late wail thrilled through the wood, that plunged me intothe deepest sadness. But once only, and that since, have mythoughts been so sorrowful. Then I was under the grandbattlements of the Indian Pass. Weary with wanderingthrough the woods, I halted a little distance from the Pass, OR, THE SARANACS AND RACKET. 207 in the dim twilight of a cloudj day, to bivouac for thenight. At my side whispered the ripples of a little stream,. THE INDIAN PASS. and to accompany my frugal meal, it furnished me a draughtfrom its cold goblet of crystal. Before me towered thatstupendous wall, the north barrier of the Pass, second onlyin sublimity to that natural wonder of our State, also a wailing wind went through the forest. Nightcame on apace. As I gazed upon the rock, soaring andlooming in the darkness, the wind seemed to say, Poor,fleeting mortal, what art thou to this work of untold ages!Does it not rebuke thee with its grandeur, and crush theewith the frowning of its strength ? And if a mere rock, a 208 WOODS AND WATEES; grain brushed from the Almightys hand, thus awes theeinto nothing, how darest thou claim immortal life, theloftiest attribute of that Almighty ! And a more bittermockery seemed to deepen in the wind. Thou pratest of a soul! Thou, to arrogate what isdenied this stately pile! thou, perishing as the flower itnourishes in its clefts! Away with thy presumptuousfolly! Know this
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