All these considerations, and many more that will readily
suggest themselves to the reader, were briefly discussed before
the young men came to any decision. The occasion, however, being
one that required acts instead of words, the course to be pursued
was soon chosen.
Disposing of the canoe in such a manner that Hist must see it,
should she come to the place of meeting previously to their return,
the young men looked to their arms and prepared to enter the wood.
The whole projection into the lake contained about two acres of
land; and the part that formed the point, and on which the camp was
placed, did not compose a surface of more than half that size. It
was principally covered with oaks, which, as is usual in the American
forests, grew to a great height without throwing out a branch, and
then arched in a dense and rich foliage. Beneath, except the fringe
of thick bushes along the shore, there was very little underbrush;
though, in consequence of their shape, the trees were closer
together than is common in regions where the axe has been freely
used, resembling tall, straight, rustic columns, upholding the
usual canopy of leaves. The surface of the land was tolerably even,
but it had a small rise near its centre, which divided it into a
northern and southern half.
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