We are quite in the wilds here.

Don't you remember the long stretches of waste land we came through?
No one builds on useless ground.

The nearest houses of any kind are over on the other side of the lake.

The beach is good there and there are a few summer cottages and a boarding house.

Farther in is the little railway station of Pine Lake--" "Jove! That's what we want! Why did you try to frighten me?
Once let us reach the station and our troubles are over.