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in the sunshine。
Where was the cave？ There was ample surface in which to look for it。 If we could have flitted about； like the hawks that came circling round； over the steep slopes； the long spurs； the jagged precipices； I have no doubt we should have found it。 But moving about on this mountain is not a holiday pastime； and we were chiefly anxious to discover a practicable mode of descent into the great wilderness basin on the south； which we must traverse that afternoon before reaching the hospitable shanty on Mud Pond。 It was enough for us to have discovered the general whereabouts of the Spanish Cave； and we left the fixing of its exact position to future explorers。
The spur we chose for our escape looked smooth in the distance； but we found it bristling with obstructions； dead balsams set thickly together； slashes of fallen timber； and every manner of woody chaos； and when at length we swung and tumbled off the ledge to the general slope； we exchanged only for more disagreeable going。 The slope for a couple of thousand feet was steep enough； but it was formed of granite rocks all moss…covered； so that the footing could not be determined； and at short intervals we nearly went out of sight in holes under the treacherous carpeting。 Add to this that stems of great trees were laid longitudinally and transversely and criss…cross over and among the rocks； and the reader can see that a good deal of work needs to be done to make this a practicable highway for anything but a squirrel。。。。
We had had no water since our daylight breakfast： our lunch on the mountain had been moistened only by the fog。 Our thirst began to be that of Tantalus； because we could hear the water running deep down among the rocks； but we could not come at it。 The imagination drank the living stream； and we realized anew what delusive food the imagination furnishes in an actual strait。 A good deal of the crime of this world； I am convinced； is the direct result of the unlicensed play of the imagination in adverse circumstances。 This reflection had nothing to do with our actual situation； for we added to our imagination patience； and to our patience long…suffering； and probably all the Christian virtues would have been developed in us if the descent had been long enough。 Before we reached the bottom of Caribou Pass； the water burst out from the rocks in a clear stream that was as cold as ice。 Shortly after； we struck the roaring brook that issues from the Pass to the south。 It is a stream full of character； not navigable even for trout in the upper part； but a succession of falls； cascades； flumes； and pools that would delight an artist。 It is not an easy bed for anything except water to descend； and before we reached the level reaches； where the stream flows with a murmurous noise through open woods； one of our party began to show signs of exhaustion。
This was Old Phelps； whose appetite had failed the day before；his imagination being in better working order than his stomach： he had eaten little that day； and his legs became so groggy that he was obliged to rest at short intervals。 Here was a situation！ The afternoon was wearing away。 We had six or seven miles of unknown wilderness to traverse； a portion of it swampy； in which a progress of more than a mile an hour is difficult； and the condition of the guide compelled even a slower march。 What should we do in that lonesome solitude if the guide became disabled？ We couldn't carry him out； could we find our own way out to get assistance？ The guide himself had never been there before； and although he knew the general direction of our point of egress； and was entirely adequate to extricate himself from any position in the woods； his knowledge was of that occult sort possessed by woodsmen which it is impossible to communicate。 Our object was to strike a trail that led from the Au Sable Pond； the other side of the mountain…range； to an inlet on Mud Pond。 We knew that if we traveled southwestward far enough we must strike that trail； but how far？ No one could tell。 If we reached that trail； and found a boat at the inlet； there would be only a row of a couple of miles to the house at the foot of the lake。 If no boat was there； then we must circle the lake three or four miles farther through a cedar…swamp； with no trail in particular。 The prospect was not pleasing。 We were short of supplies； for we had not expected to pass that night in the woods。 The pleasure of the excursion began to develop itself。
We stumbled on in the general direction marked out； through a forest that began to seem endless as hour after hour passed； compelled as we were to make long detours over the ridges of the foothills to avoid the swamp； which sent out from the border of the lake long tongues into the firm ground。 The guide became more ill at every step； and needed frequent halts and long rests。 Food he could not eat； and tea； water； and even brandy he rejected。 Again and again the old philosopher； enfeebled by excessive exertion and illness； would collapse in a heap on the ground； an almost comical picture of despair； while we stood and waited the waning of the day； and peered forward in vain for any sign of an open country。 At every brook we encountered； we suggested a halt for the night； while it was still light enough to select a camping…place； but the plucky old man wouldn't hear of it： the trail might be only a quarter of a mile ahead； and we crawled on again at a snail's pace。 His honor as a guide seemed to be at stake； and； besides； he confessed to a notion that his end was near； and he didn't want to die like a dog in the woods。 And yet； if this was his last journey； it seemed not an inappropriate ending for the old woodsman to lie down and give up the ghost in the midst of the untamed forest and the solemn silences he felt most at home in。 There is a popular theory； held by civilians； that a soldier likes to die in battle。 I suppose it is as true that a woodsman would like to 〃pass in his chips；〃the figure seems to be inevitable； struck down by illness and exposure； in the forest solitude； with heaven in sight and a tree…root for his pillow。
The guide seemed really to fear that； if we did not get out of the woods that night； he would never go out； and； yielding to his dogged resolution； we kept on in search of the trail； although the gathering of dusk over the ground warned us that we might easily cross the trail without recognizing it。 We were traveling by the light in the upper sky； and by the forms of the tree…stems； which every moment grew dimmer。 At last the end came。 We had just felt our way over what seemed to be a little run of water； when the old man sunk down； remarking； 〃I might as well die here as anywhere；〃 and was silent。
Suddenly night fell like a blanket on us。 We could neither see the guide nor each other。 We became at once conscious that miles of night on all sides shut us in。 The sky was clouded over： there wasn't a gleam of light to show us where to step。 Our first thought was to build a fire； which would drive back the thick darkness into the woods； and boil some water for our tea。 But it was too dark to use the axe。 We scraped together leaves and twig