It was steep, and I laughed to think how terrified they would be if they could see me; but this afternoon as I had thrown off restraint, I chose the first place where descent was possible, and let myself down along a rather wide crevice where some earth had gathered, and a few bushes were growing.  I went fast too, for I meant to go just as far as I could before I was rounded up and brought into camp.  Between the two ridges was a bog, and I tried to cross it to save time; but it threatened to let me in too deep, and I had to give it up and go round.  I was only a little way up on the other hill when there came the sound of two rifle shots from the lower end of the lake.  Evidently the discovery of my, whereabouts had aroused very spirited movement.  On I went, faster than ever.  The flies were desperately thick, and I kept a piece of spruce bough going constantly over my face and neck to keep them from devouring me bodily.  I could feel my ears and neck wet and sticky with blood, for some of the bites bleed a good deal.  Still what did flies matter when you were free.  That afternoon I should go just as far as I thought I could, and get back to camp by dark.

To my disappointment, when I reached the top of the ridge I still could not see the river, for it disappeared between high, rocky banks, and could only be seen by walking close to the edge.  I decided to go along the ridge as far as I could, and then, slipping down to the river, to return to camp that way.  About two miles out on the ridge I sat down to rest and look about a little.  The rain passed, and a fine breeze put the flies to rout at this highest point.

I had been seated there but a little while when, looking back, I saw one of the men, which proved to be George, running as if for life along the top of the ridge where they had first seen me.  I could just make him out against the sky.  Then he disappeared, I could not tell where.

After a time I began to hear shots.  The sounds were very faint, but followed each other in quick succession.  I laughed, and thought I knew what was happening where they came from.  The shots seemed to come from the ridge I was on; but for some time I could not see any one.  Finally, I caught sight of one of the men.  He was waving his arms about wildly, and I could hear very faintly the sound of shouting.  Then another figure appeared, and they started running towards me.

Suddenly I became frightened.  Perhaps all the excitement was not on my account after all, and I began to wonder if something dreadful had happened.  Had any one been hurt, or drowned?  I started quickly towards them, but as soon as they were near enough for me to see their faces plainly, I knew that I had been the sole cause of the trouble.  It was George and Job.  The perspiration was dripping from their faces, which were pale and filled with an expression, the funniest mixture of indignant resentment, anxiety, and relief, that could possibly be imagined.