Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/40

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��AN OLD TIME TRIP IX NEW HAMPSHIRE.

��west were the bald crests of Ascutney and Cardigan. On the north Kearsarge was seen struggling to raise its head above the shoulders of an intervening range, and through the frosty atmos- phere were revealed the sharp, snow- white peaks of Franconia. Eastward the highlands of Chester and Notting- ham bounded the vision — while nearer by reposed in quiet beauty the Uncanoo- nucks, at that time a well-known land- mark to every explorer.

Warned by the freezing atmosphere they hastened down to a dense spruce growth on the northeast side of the mountain, and built their camp for the night. For some cause, perhaps because it was a sheltered nook, the tenants of the forest gathered around. The grove seemed alive with the squirrel, rabbit and partridge. But the hunters were weary, and as their sacks were still laden with coon's meat, these new visitors were lett unharmed. The curiosity with which these wild tenants of the mountain lin- gered around led the two men to believe that they had never before approached a camp-fire or seen a human form.

Just before daybreak Lovewell awoke and telling his companion to pre- pare for breakfast, returned to the sum- mit of the mountain. It was important to reach the Merrimack by the nearest route, and he could better judge by re- viewing the landscape at early dawn. In after years he was wont to say that the stars never seemed so near as when he had gained the summit. The loneli- ness of the hour suggested to him what was probably the truth, that he and his companion were the first white men who had set foot on this mountain peak. It is situated in the eastern part of the present town of Washington, and its

��symmetrical, cone-like form is familiar to the eye of many a reader of the Gran- ite Monthly. With the exception of Monad nock and Kearsarge it is the high- est summit in Southern New Hampshire, and to-day it bears the well-known name of Lovewell's Mountain.

THE RETURN TO DUNSTABLE.

Before Lovewell left the summit, the adjacent woodlands became visible, and looking eastward down into the valley he saw only a few miles away a smoke curling up from the depths of the forest. It revealed the proximity either of a party of savages or a stray hunter. Re- turning to camp, breakfast was taken hurriedly, and descending into the val- ley they proceeded with the utmost cau- tion. Reaching the vicinity of the smoke they heard voices and soon after the rus- tling of footsteps. Both dropped upon the ground, and fortunately were screened by a thick underbrush. A party of six Indians passed within a hundred yards. They were armed and evidently on their way to the Connecticut valley. As soon as they were beyond hearing the two men proceeded cautiously to the spot where the savages passed the night. They had breakfasted on parched acorns and the meat of some small animal, prob- ably the rabbit.

Congratulating themselves on their lucky escape from a winter's captivity in Canada, Lovewell and his companion continued their route over the rolling lands now comprised in the towns of Hillsborough, Deering.Weare and Goffs- town to the Merrimack. From thence, they readily reached their home in Dun- stable. It may be well to add that Love- well was a relative of the famous Capt. John Lovewell, whose name is so well known in colonial history.

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