wolves and moose. At length the Indian arose and made preparations for departure. Taking our rifles and fishing tackle, we pushed our boats into the lake, and made for Raquette River, the outlet of the lake,

and thence into Cold River.

I wish I could give you some conception of this stream. At this season of the year it is almost as moveless as a pond, while its waters are clear as fluid crystal, revealing a smooth and pebbly bottom. The shores of both the rivers are all trodden over with moose and deer and bear tracks. During the afternoon we had endeavored to take some trout, of which Mitchell told me the river was full. But the unruffled surface of the stream, combined with its pellucid waters, and an unclouded sun, made every fish fly to his lurking place long before we got sight of him. Under the deep shadow of an overhanging and wooded bank, Mitchell at length took one, while I had the pleasure of seeing a two pounder rise to my fly with open mouth and dilated eyes; but just as he was going to snap it, he caught a glimpse of us, and darted like a flash of lightning to the bottom, from whence no after-coaxing could lure him. But as the sun went down I hal better success. Being the only

They were,

one who used a fly, I took all the trout. however, of a small size and difficult to hook, for I had nothing but a common pole cut from the forest, on which to rig my line. I had left my light and delicate rod in the settlements, as I should advise every one to do, who endeavors to penetrate this pathless region. When one is compelled to carry his own rifle, overcoat, and underclothing, and sometimes his cooking utensils, and that, too, with a walk of twenty miles on a stretch before him, he would do well not to lumber himself up with fishing rods.

But when the sun at length totally disappeared behind the mountains, and the surface of Cold River, overshadowed by an impenetrable forest, became black as ink, the trout left their retreats; and in a short time the water was in a foam with their constant leaping. Where but a short time before we had passed, looking down through the clear depths without seeing a single finny rover, now there seemed an innumerable multitude. Here a sudden bold bound-there a long shoot as a fierce fellow swept along after a large fly, kept the bosom of the stream in a bubble. The Indian and my companions

had stiff poles, cor

lines, and large hooks, with a

piece of raw venison for bait. This they would "skitter" along the surface, and the moment it caught the eye of a trout, away he would rush with a leap and plunge after it. I found that my light tackle was entirely out of place in this new mode of fishing, for while I was drowning one big fellow, those in the boat with me would take half a dozen. Besides the time for fishing was short, for twilight had already settled on the forest-and so, after in my hurry breaking two or three snells, I, too, rigged on a cord line, big hook, and piece of venison. I never saw anything like it in my life-it was a constant leap, roll, and plunge there around our lines and some of them such immense fellows for brook trout. In a half an hour we took at least a half a bushel, many of them weighing three pounds, and few less than a pound.

At length, however, it became too dark to fish, and a single rifle shot of the Indian recalling our scattered boats, we started for the camp.

Turning the head of our boat, we drifted down to Raquette River, and then pulled for the lake. This was a mile of hard rowing, and it was late before we reached the outlet. One skiff having started sooner than we, was already at the camp-the cheerful fire

of which burst on us through the trees as we rounded a point of the outlet, and shot upon the bosom of the quiet lake. "Look, R-ffe," I exclaimed, "yonder is the camp fire, and now another light mcves down to the beach, where they are dressing the trout for supper." He sprang to the oars, and the light boat fled like a wild deer toward that cheerful flame. Islands and rocks flew by, and under a cloudless sky, and myriads of bright and glorious stars, we sped gaily on, till, at length, the boat grated on the pebbly beach, and a joyous shout that made the solemn old forest ring, went up from the camp and shore. In a moment all was bustle and preparation for supper, and the noblest dish of trout I ever ate I took there by fire light in the woods. My appetite, it is true, was sharp, and we made a sad inroad into our pile of fish.

After supper we lay around in every variety of attitude upon the dry earth, lazily snuffing up the fragrance of the woods, and looking off on the still surface of the lake in whose clear depths the stars of heaven stood trembling, and listening to wild hunting stories, interspersed now and then with flashes of broad humor, till at length the deep breathing of the

Indian admonished us that we, too, needed repose to prepare us for the toils of the next day. We did not retire to our rooms and blow out the lights, but spreading a blanket on the earth and leaves, stretched ourselves upon it in a row, and with our feet to the blazing fire, composed ourselves to rest-that is, all the party but myself. I sat up for some time by the crackling fire, and watched the others as they dropped one after another to sleep, until exhausted and weary, I also stretched myself beside the Indian with a log for my pillow, between two knots of which I placed my head to keep it from rolling.

A little after midnight I awoke the wind had shifted to the east, and was blowing strong and chill, sending a rapid swell on the beach, and a loud murmur though the cedar tops overhead. The fire had died away, except a few smouldering brands, while the bright stars, those ceaseless watchers, looked kindly down from their high sentinel posts in heaven. The wild and lonely scream of the northern diver, came at intervals through the darkness, as he floated far away on the water; and night, solemn night, with the great forest, was around me. I strolled down to the lake shore, and let the breeze fall on my fevered