the complete writings-3-第5章
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s theory。 I fancied that I could feel a sneer in the woods at my detected conceit。 There was something personal in it。 The downpour of the rain and the slipperiness of the ground were elements of discomfort； but there was； besides these； a kind of terror in the very character of the forest itself。 I think this arose not more from its immensity than from the kind of stolidity to which I have alluded。 It seemed to me that it would be a sort of relief to kick the trees。 I don't wonder that the bears fall to； occasionally； and scratch the bark off the great pines and maples； tearing it angrily away。 One must have some vent to his feelings。 It is a common experience of people lost in the woods to lose their heads； and even the woodsmen themselves are not free from this panic when some accident has thrown them out of their reckoning。 Fright unsettles the judgment： the oppressive silence of the woods is a vacuum in which the mind goes astray。 It's a hollow sham； this pantheism； I said； being 〃one with Nature〃 is all humbug： I should like to see somebody。 Man； to be sure； is of very little account； and soon gets beyond his depth； but the society of the least human being is better than this gigantic indifference。 The 〃rapture on the lonely shore〃 is agreeable only when you know you can at any moment go home。
I had now given up all expectation of finding the road； and was steering my way as well as I could northward towards the valley。 In my haste I made slow progress。 Probably the distance I traveled was short； and the time consumed not long； but I seemed to be adding mile to mile； and hour to hour。 I had time to review the incidents of the Russo…Turkish war； and to forecast the entire Eastern question； I outlined the characters of all my companions left in camp； and sketched in a sort of comedy the sympathetic and disparaging observations they would make on my adventure； I repeated something like a thousand times； without contradiction； 〃What a fool you were to leave the river！〃 I stopped twenty times； thinking I heard its loud roar； always deceived by the wind in the tree…tops； I began to entertain serious doubts about the compass；when suddenly I became aware that I was no longer on level ground： I was descending a slope； I was actually in a ravine。 In a moment more I was in a brook newly formed by the rain。 〃Thank Heaven！〃 I cried： 〃this I shall follow； whatever conscience or the compass says。〃 In this region； all streams go； sooner or later； into the valley。 This ravine； this stream； no doubt； led to the river。 I splashed and tumbled along down it in mud and water。 Down hill we went together； the fall showing that I must have wandered to high ground。 When I guessed that I must be close to the river； I suddenly stepped into mud up to my ankles。 It was the road；running； of course； the wrong way； but still the blessed road。 It was a mere canal of liquid mud； but man had made it； and it would take me home。 I was at least three miles from the point I supposed I was near at sunset； and I had before me a toilsome walk of six or seven miles； most of the way in a ditch； but it is truth to say that I enjoyed every step of it。 I was safe； I knew where I was； and I could have walked till morning。 The mind had again got the upper hand of the body； and began to plume itself on its superiority： it was even disposed to doubt whether it had been 〃lost〃 at all。
III
A FIGHT WITH A TROUT
Trout fishing in the Adirondacks would be a more attractive pastime than it is but for the popular notion of its danger。 The trout is a retiring and harmless animal； except when he is aroused and forced into a combat； and then his agility； fierceness； and vindictiveness become apparent。 No one who has studied the excellent pictures representing men in an open boat； exposed to the assaults of long； enraged trout flying at them through the open air with open mouth； ever ventures with his rod upon the lonely lakes of the forest without a certain terror； or ever reads of the exploits of daring fishermen without a feeling of admiration for their heroism。 Most of their adventures are thrilling； and all of them are； in narration； more or less unjust to the trout： in fact； the object of them seems to be to exhibit； at the expense of the trout； the shrewdness； the skill； and the muscular power of the sportsman。 My own simple story has few of these recommendations。
We had built our bark camp one summer and were staying on one of the popular lakes of the Saranac region。 It would be a very pretty region if it were not so flat； if the margins of the lakes had not been flooded by dams at the outlets； which have killed the trees； and left a rim of ghastly deadwood like the swamps of the under…world pictured by Dore's bizarre pencil；and if the pianos at the hotels were in tune。 It would be an excellent sporting region also （for there is water enough） if the fish commissioners would stock the waters； and if previous hunters had not pulled all the hair and skin off from the deers' tails。 Formerly sportsmen had a habit of catching the deer by the tails； and of being dragged in mere wantonness round and round the shores。 It is well known that if you seize a deer by this 〃holt〃 the skin will slip off like the peel from a bananaThis reprehensible practice was carried so far that the traveler is now hourly pained by the sight of peeled…tail deer mournfully sneaking about the wood。
We had been hearing； for weeks； of a small lake in the heart of the virgin forest； some ten miles from our camp； which was alive with trout； unsophisticated； hungry trout： the inlet to it was described as stiff with them。 In my imagination I saw them lying there in ranks and rows； each a foot long； three tiers deep； a solid mass。 The lake had never been visited except by stray sable hunters in the winter； and was known as the Unknown Pond。 I determined to explore it； fully expecting； however； that it would prove to be a delusion； as such mysterious haunts of the trout usually are。 Confiding my purpose to Luke； we secretly made our preparations； and stole away from the shanty one morning at daybreak。 Each of us carried a boat； a pair of blankets； a sack of bread； pork； and maple…sugar； while I had my case of rods； creel； and book of flies； and Luke had an axe and the kitchen utensils。 We think nothing of loads of this sort in the woods。
Five miles through a tamarack swamp brought us to the inlet of Unknown Pond； upon which we embarked our fleet； and paddled down its vagrant waters。 They were at first sluggish； winding among triste fir…trees； but gradually developed a strong current。 At the end of three miles a loud roar ahead warned us that we were approaching rapids； falls； and cascades。 We paused。 The danger was unknown。 We had our choice of shouldering our loads and making a detour through the woods； or of 〃shooting the rapids。〃 Naturally we chose the more dangerous course。 Shooting the rapids has often been described； and I will not repeat the description here。 It is needless to say that I drove my frail bark through the boiling rapids； over the successive waterfalls； amid rocks and vicious eddies； and landed； half a mile below with whitened hair and a boat half full of water； and that the guide was upset； and boat； contents； and man were strewn along the shore。
After this common experience we went quickly on our journey； and； a couple of hours before sundown； reached the lake。 If I live to my dying day； I never shall forget its appearance。 The lake is almost an exact circle； about a quarter of a mile in diameter。 The forest about it was untouched by axe； and unkilled by artificial flooding。 The azure water had a perfect setting of evergreens； in which all the shades of the fir； the balsam； the pine； and the spruce were perfectly blended； and at intervals on the shore in the emerald rim blazed the ruby of the cardinal flower。 It was at once evident that the unruffled waters had never been vexed by the keel of a boat。 But what chiefly attracted my attention； and amused me； was the boiling of the water； the bubbling and breaking； as if the lake were a vast kettle； with a fire underneath。 A tyro would have been astonished at this common phe
