At the top the three paused in joyful astonishment.

At their feet lay a "dip," or hollow, a dozen acres in extent, and in the center of this dip was a tiny lake partly surrounded by a mixed forest of cedar, balsam and birch that swept back over the hill, and partly inclosed by a meadow-like opening.

One might have traveled through the country a thousand times without discovering this bit of wilderness paradise hidden in a hilltop.

Without speaking Mukoki threw off his heavy pack.

Wabi unbuckled his harness and relieved his shoulders of their burden.