A  pause  and  council:  then,  where  near  the  head

30  On  the  east  a  bay  makes  inward  to  the  land
Between  two  rocky  arms,  we  climb  the  bank,
And  in  the  twilight  of  the  forest  noon
Wield  the  first  axe  these  echoes  ever  heard,
We  cut  young  trees  to  make  our  poles  and  thwarts,

35  Barked  the  white  spruce  to  weatherfend  the  roof,
Then  struck  a  light,  and  kindled  the  camp-fire.
The  wood  was  sovran  with  centennial  trees  —
Oak,  cedar,  maple,  poplar,  beech  and  fir,
Linden  and  spruce.     In  strict  society
40  Three  conifers,  white,  pitch,  and  Norway  pine,
Five-leaved,  three-leaved,  and  two-leaved,  grew

thereby.
Our  patron  pine  was  fifteen  feet  in  girth,
The  maple  eight,  beneath  its  shapely  tower.
37.  Milton  frequently  employed  the  form  sovran  for  sover-
eign, although  in  many  editions  the  spelling  has  been  changed
to  the  longer  form.
THE  ADIRONDACS.  421

11  Welcome!  "  the  wood  god  murmured  through
the  leaves,  —   ■
45  u  Welcome,  though  late,  unknowing,  yet  known
to  me."
Evening  drew  on;    stars  peeped  through  maple-
boughs,
Which  o'erhung,  like  a  cloud,  our  camping  fire.
Decayed  millennial  trunks,  like  moonlight  flecks,
Lit  with  phosphoric  crumbs  the  forest  floor.
50       Ten  scholars,  wonted  to  lie  warm  and  soft
In  well-hung  chambers  daintily  bestowed,
Lie  here  on  hemlock  boughs,  like  Sacs  and  Sioux,
And  greet  unanimous  the  joyful  change.
So  fast  will  Nature  acclimate  her  sons,

55  Though  late  returning  to  her  pristine  ways.
Off  soundings,  seamen  do  not  suffer  cold;
And,  in  the  forest,  delicate  clerks,  unbrowned,
Sleep  on  the  fragrant  brush  as  on  down-beds.
