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upon a chapter devoted to coaches； in which there is much curious （and
worthless information； darkened with Latin quotations。 This reading had
an unexpected effect upon me。
I could not seem to keep my mind down upon the printed page； it kept
bounding away at the sight of the distant hills； at the sound of a
woodpecker on a dead stub which stood near me； and at the thousand and
one faint rustlings； creepings； murmurings； tappings； which animate the
mystery of the forest。 How dull indeed appeared the printed page in
comparison with the book of life； how shut…in its atmosphere； how tinkling
and distant the sound of its voices。 Suddenly I shut my book with a snap。
〃Musty coaches and Latin quotations！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Montaigne's no
writer for the open air。 He belongs at a study fire on a quiet evening！〃
I had anticipated； when I started out； many a pleasant hour by the
roadside or in the woods with my books； but this was almost the first
opportunity I had found for reading （as it was almost the last）； so full was
the present world of stirring events。 As for poor old Montaigne； I have
been out of harmony with him ever since； nor have I wanted him in the
intimate case at my elbow。
After a long time in the forest； and the sun having reached the high
heavens； I gathered up my pack and set forth again along the slope of the
hillsnot hurrying； just drifting and enjoying every sight and sound。 And
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thus walking I came in sight； through the trees； of a glistening pool of
water and made my way straight toward it。
A more charming spot I have rarely seen。 In some former time an old
mill had stood at the foot of the little valley； and a ruinous stone dam still
held the water in a deep； quiet pond between two round hills。 Above it a
brook ran down through the woods； and below； with a pleasant musical
sound； the water dripped over the mossy stone lips of the dam and fell into
the rocky pool below。 Nature had long ago healed the wounds of men； she
had half…covered the ruined mill with verdure； had softened the stone walls
of the dam with mosses and lichens； and had crept down the steep hillside
and was now leaning so far out over the pool that she could see her
reflection in the quiet water。
Near the upper end of the pond I found a clear white sand…bank； where
no doubt a thousand fishermen had stood； half hidden by the willows； to
cast for trout in the pool below。 I intended merely to drink and moisten my
face； but as I knelt by the pool and saw my reflection in the clear water
wanted something more than that！ In a moment I had thrown aside my bag
and clothes and found myself wading naked into the water。
It was cold！ I stood a moment there in the sunny air； the great world
open around me； shuddering； for I dreaded the plungeand then with a run；
a shout and a splash I took the deep water。 Oh； but it was fine！ With long；
deep strokes I carried myself fairly to the middle of the pond。 The first
chill was succeeded by a tingling glow； and I can convey no idea whatever
of the glorious sense of exhilaration I had。 I swam with the broad front
stroke； I swam on my side； head half submerged； with a deep under stroke；
and I rolled over on my back and swam with the water lapping my chin。
Thus I came to the end of the pool near the old dam； touched my feet on
the bottom； gave a primeval whoop； and dove back into the water again。 I
have rarely experienced keener physical joy。 After swimming thus
boisterously for a time； I quieted down to long； leisurely strokes；
conscious of the water playing across my shoulders and singing at my ears；
and finally； reaching the centre of the pond； I turned over on my back and；
paddling lazily； watched the slow procession of light clouds across the
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sunlit openings of the trees above me。 Away up in the sky I could see a
hawk slowly swimming about （in his element as I was in mine）； and nearer
at hand； indeed fairly in the thicket about the pond； I could hear a wood…
thrush singing。
And so； shaking the water out of my hair and swimming with long and
leisurely strokes； I returned to the sand…bank； and there； standing in a spot
of warm sunshine； I dried myself with the towel from my bag。 And I said
to myself：
〃Surely it is good to be alive at a time like this！〃
Slowly I drew on my clothes； idling there in the sand； and afterward I
found an inviting spot in an old meadow where I threw myself down on
the grass under an apple…tree and looked up into the shadowy places in the
foliage above me。 I felt a delicious sense of physical well…being； and I was
pleasantly tired。
So I lay thereand the next thing I knew； I turned over； feeling cold
and stiff； and opened my eyes upon the dusky shadows of late evening。 I
had been sleeping for hours！
The next few minutes （or was it an hour or eternity？）； I recall as
containing some of the most exciting and； when all is said； amusing
incidents in my whole life。 And I got quite a new glimpse of that
sometimes bumptious person known as David Grayson。
The first sensation I had was one of complete panic。 What was I to do？
Where was I to go？
Hastily seizing my bagand before I was half awakeI started rapidly
across the meadow； in my excitement tripping and falling several times in
the first hundred yards。 In daylight I have no doubt that I should easily
have seen a gateway or at least an opening from the old meadow； but in
the fast…gathering darkness it seemed to me that the open field was
surrounded on every side by impenetrable forests。 Absurd as it may seem；
for no one knows what his mind will do at such a moment； I recalled
vividly a passage from Stanley's story of his search for Livingstone； in
which he relates how he escaped from a difficult place in the jungle by
KEEPING STRAIGHT AHEAD。
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I print these words in capitals because they seemed written that night
upon the sky。 KEEPING STRAIGHT AHEAD； I entered the forest on one
side of