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52.
Tuesday, August 18.
At the foot of the hill on which we spent the night was a swamp in which the sunlight revealed great coarse plants some five feet high, At first glance we took them to be orchids but a more careful inspection showed them to be a member of the Lily Family, Veratrum viride. Because of their great size, we decided not to gather any specimens until our return.

Our uncomfortable position on the hillside resulted in an early start. Our course now lay along a road for about a mile to North Elba, a small collection of houses and a post-office, and then slightly to the south-west for eight miles to South Meadows. At North Elba we left our tent with a farmer, planning to spend the coming nights at lumber camps or at self-made shacks.

Shortly after leaving the village, we were fortunate enough to get a ride for about three to the Woods Farm - the last outpost of ^the civilization which has been built up in the environs of Lake Placid. While we were riding in the wagon, a heavy rainstorm broke. This, it seems, is nothing in this part of the country, the tall mountains piercing the clouds so that almost every little cloud leaks. We decided to stay in Mr. Woods' barn until the storm should let up a little and accordingly put in about half an hour lazing around in the hay. We wound up our visit to the Woods Farm by eating all the doughnuts and drinking all the milk we could stand.

In a light drizzle we continued on our way. Our luggage consisting only in a knapsack, blankets, and cameras, we were able to make good time and soon reached the sign-post, four miles from the farm. Here we hesitated. The government maps which we had
were

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