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A longer time than I knew was consumed in this and repeated efforts to wait for the slackening and renewing storm to pass away。 In the intervals of calm I still fished； and even descended to what a sportsman considers incredible baseness： I put a 〃sinker〃 on my line。 It is the practice of the country folk； whose only object is to get fish； to use a good deal of bait； sink the hook to the bottom of the pools； and wait the slow appetite of the summer trout。 I tried this also。 I might as well have fished in a pork barrel。 It is true that in one deep； black； round pool I lured a small trout from the bottom； and deposited him in the creel； but it was an accident。 Though I sat there in the awful silence （the roar of water and thunder only emphasized the stillness） full half an hour； I was not encouraged by another nibble。 Hope； however； did not die： I always expected to find the trout in the next flume； and so I toiled slowly on； unconscious of the passing time。 At each turn of the stream I expected to see the end； and at each turn I saw a long； narrow stretch of rocks and foaming water。 Climbing out of the ravine was； in most places； simply impossible； and I began to look with interest for a slide； where bushes rooted in the scant earth would enable me to scale the precipice。 I did not doubt that I was nearly through the gorge。 I could at length see the huge form of the Giant of the Valley； scarred with avalanches； at the end of the vista； and it seemed not far off。 But it kept its distance； as only a mountain can； while I stumbled and slid down the rocky way。 The rain had now set in with persistence； and suddenly I became aware that it was growing dark； and I said to myself； 〃If you don't wish to spend the night in this horrible chasm； you'd better escape speedily。〃 Fortunately I reached a place where the face of the precipice was bushgrown； and with considerable labor scrambled up it。
Having no doubt that I was within half a mile； perhaps within a few rods； of the house above the entrance of the gorge； and that； in any event； I should fall into the cart…path in a few minutes； I struck boldly into the forest； congratulating myself on having escaped out of the river。 So sure was I of my whereabouts that I did not note the bend of the river； nor look at my compass。 The one trout in my basket was no burden； and I stepped lightly out。
The forest was of hard…wood； and open； except for a thick undergrowth of moose…bush。 It was raining；in fact； it had been raining； more or less； for a month；and the woods were soaked。 This moose…bush is most annoying stuff to travel through in a rain； for the broad leaves slap one in the face； and sop him with wet。 The way grew every moment more dingy。 The heavy clouds above the thick foliage brought night on prematurely。 It was decidedly premature to a near…sighted man； whose glasses the rain rendered useless： such a person ought to be at home early。 On leaving the river bank I had borne to the left； so as to be sure to strike either the clearing or the road； and not wander off into the measureless forest。 I confidently pursued this course； and went gayly on by the left flank。 That I did not come to any opening or path only showed that I had slightly mistaken the distance： I was going in the right direction。
I was so certain of this that I quickened my pace and got up with alacrity every time I tumbled down amid the slippery leaves and catching roots； and hurried on。 And I kept to the left。 It even occurred to me that I was turning to the left so much that I might come back to the river again。 It grew more dusky； and rained more violently； but there was nothing alarming in the situation； since I knew exactly where I was。 It was a little mortifying that I had miscalculated the distance： yet； so far was I from feeling any uneasiness about this that I quickened my pace again； and； before I knew it； was in a full run； that is； as full a run as a person can indulge in in the dusk； with so many trees in the way。 No nervousness； but simply a reasonable desire to get there。 I desired to look upon myself as the person 〃not lost； but gone before。〃 As time passed； and darkness fell； and no clearing or road appeared； I ran a little faster。 It didn't seem possible that the people had moved； or the road been changed； and yet I was sure of my direction。 I went on with an energy increased by the ridiculousness of the situation； the danger that an experienced woodsman was in of getting home late for supper； the lateness of the meal being nothing to the gibes of the unlost。 How long I kept this course； and how far I went on； I do not know； but suddenly I stumbled against an ill…placed tree； and sat down on the soaked ground； a trifle out of breath。 It then occurred to me that I had better verify my course by the compass。 There was scarcely light enough to distinguish the black end of the needle。 To my amazement； the compass； which was made near Greenwich； was wrong。 Allowing for the natural variation of the needle； it was absurdly wrong。 It made out that I was going south when I was going north。 It intimated that； instead of turning to the left； I had been making a circuit to the right。 According to the compass； the Lord only knew where I was。
The inclination of persons in the woods to travel in a circle is unexplained。 I suppose it arises from the sympathy of the legs with the brain。 Most people reason in a circle： their minds go round and round； always in the same track。 For the last half hour I had been saying over a sentence that started itself： 〃I wonder where that road is！〃 I had said it over till it had lost all meaning。 I kept going round on it； and yet I could not believe that my body had been traveling in a circle。 Not being able to recognize any tracks； I have no evidence that I had so traveled； except the general testimony of lost men。
The compass annoyed me。 I've known experienced guides utterly discredit it。 It couldn't be that I was to turn about； and go the way I had come。 Nevertheless； I said to myself； 〃You'd better keep a cool head； my boy； or you are in for a night of it。 Better listen to science than to spunk。〃 And I resolved to heed the impartial needle。 I was a little weary of the rough tramping： but it was necessary to be moving； for； with wet clothes and the night air； I was decidedly chilly。 I turned towards the north； and slipped and stumbled along。 A more uninviting forest to pass the night in I never saw。 Every… thing was soaked。 If I became exhausted； it would be necessary to build a fire； and； as I walked on； I couldn't find a dry bit of wood。 Even if a little punk were discovered in a rotten log I had no hatchet to cut fuel。 I thought it all over calmly。 I had the usual three matches in my pocket。 I knew exactly what would happen if I tried to build a fire。 The first match would prove to be wet。 The second match； when struck； would shine and smell； and fizz a little； and then go out。 There would be only one match left。 Death would ensue if it failed。 I should get close to the log； crawl under my hat； strike the match； see it catch； flicker； almost go out （the reader painfully excited by this time）； blaze up； nearly expi