Woods and waters: . le opposite, a wall slightly sloping rose hundreds of feetabove. Half-way down this awful gorge, I saw a floatingatom that I supposed an eagle tacking up the side. Froma ledge, seeming but a hands-breadth and near the mov-ing speck, slanted what appeared a shrub but was reallyone of those enormous pines which towered up into thesky opposite, and went dwindling rank below rank downthe chasm. Shuddering at the terror, and yet fascinated by the wildgrandeur of the scene, I remained gazing, until a whoopfrom my guide recalled my thoughts, and turning, I oncemore bent my energie
Woods and waters: . le opposite, a wall slightly sloping rose hundreds of feetabove. Half-way down this awful gorge, I saw a floatingatom that I supposed an eagle tacking up the side. Froma ledge, seeming but a hands-breadth and near the mov-ing speck, slanted what appeared a shrub but was reallyone of those enormous pines which towered up into thesky opposite, and went dwindling rank below rank downthe chasm. Shuddering at the terror, and yet fascinated by the wildgrandeur of the scene, I remained gazing, until a whoopfrom my guide recalled my thoughts, and turning, I oncemore bent my energies to clambering up the mountain. S28 WOODS AND WATERS : This became harder and harder, from the increasing steep-ness and the density of the underbrush, as well as the barri-cades of branches though which we plunged, twisting asideand breaking off limbs for passage. Frequent halts werenow made, generally beside some cool, clear spring, oozingout from moist roots and mossy clefts, for deep and mostdelicious WHITBFACE. Now and then a dead pine or hemlock, fallen from above,would bridge some deep ravine, offering an upward pathalong its broad breast and jagged points. Struggling thus an hour longer, all at once, we brokethrough a dense thicket, and a startling sight met us. Aslant plunge of rock, perfectly smooth and sloping steeplyto a sheer precipice, lay directly in our path. A few spotsof moss alone broke the smooth, glistening This is the Little Slide, said Thompson, and to myamazement and no little dread, he planted his foot r^pon itwith the evident intention of crossing. 829 You dont mean to say that our course lies over thatplace! said I. Sarten, returned he, right crost. Theres no right about it, returned I, and hang meif I go! No other way, responded the other coolly, and ad-vancing toward the middle. There aint no dannger as Iknows on. These spots o moss is the dandy to git uscrost. They are, eh! Suppose these spots of moss shouldslip, where would w
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