Chapter 3

           "Beforethesefieldswereshornandtilled,

           Fulltothebrimourriversflowed;

           Themelodyofwatersfilled

           Thefreshandboundlesswood;

           Andtorrentsdashed,andrivuletsplayed,

           Andfountainsspoutedintheshade."

           Bryant.

           LeavingtheunsuspectingHeywardandhisconfidingcompanionstopenetratestilldeeperintoaforestthatcontainedsuchtreacherousinmates,wemustuseanauthor’sprivilege,andshiftthesceneafewmilestothewestwardoftheplacewherewehavelastseenthem.

           Onthatday,twomenwerelingeringonthebanksofasmallbutrapidstream,withinanhour’sjourneyoftheencampmentofWebb,likethosewhoawaitedtheappearanceofanabsentperson,ortheapproachofsomeexpectedevent.Thevastcanopyofwoodsspreaditselftothemarginoftheriveroverhangingthewater,andshadowingitsdarkcurrentwithadeeperhue.Theraysofthesunwerebeginningtogrowlessfierce,andtheintenseheatofthedaywaslessened,asthecoolervaporsofthespringsandfountainsroseabovetheirleafybeds,andrestedintheatmosphere.Stillthatbreathingsilence,whichmarksthedrowsysultrinessofanAmericanlandscapeinJuly,pervadedthesecludedspot,interruptedonlybythelowvoicesofthemen,theoccasionalandlazytapofawoodpecker,thediscordantcryofsomegaudyjay,oraswellingontheear,fromthedullroarofadistantwaterfall.

           Thesefeebleandbrokensoundswere,however,toofamiliartotheforesters,todrawtheirattentionfromthemoreinterestingmatteroftheirdialogue.