66

A WEARY WIGHT."

149

ward. Those slender boats never looked so beautiful to me before, as they then did, resting quietly on the beach.

It was now nearly dark, and the nearest hut was four miles off. Three of us sat down in one boat and looked despairingly on each other, as much as to say, "Who can row these four miles ?" Invalid as I was, I seemed to have the most strength left, and so took the oars and rowed two miles and a half, though every stroke seemed to tear out my very stomach-ribs and all. We at length moored our skiff at the base of a hill, and began the ascent to a clearing. With both hands on the muzzle of my rifle, which I used as a pole to push myself along with, I dragged one foot after another, till I at length stopped; and bowing my head on my gun, declared I was fairly done up, and could go no farther. Just then there came a flash of lightning that set the dark forest in a blaze, followed by a peal of thunder that made the shores and mountains tremble, as it rolled like the report of a hundred cannon down the lake. I instinctively straightened up, as the thought flashed over me, what sort of a mathematical line the bullet of my rifle would just then have made through my

brain, had the powder but ignited. I immediately stepped forward with considerable alertness, though not without reflecting on the wonderful power electricity and magnetism exerted over the human system, especially under such circumstances.

I at length reached the hut, with a head bursting with pain; and, throwing myself on the floor, begged most piteously for a morsel of bread. I had been fourteen hours without food, and most of the time undergoing the severest toil. That night was one of pain to me, and as I turned on my rude bed, I felt that for once I had "paid too dear for the whistle."

Yours truly.

LONG LAKE-A FEARFUL NIGHT-A GALE IN THE WOODSMAN BITTEN BY A RABBIT.

LONG LAKE, August.

MY DEAR H— :

You must expect now and then a hiatus in my journal, for hours of idleness are indulged in here as well as in civilized life. To-day, wearied with yesterday's tramp, we may be loitering around the camp, cleaning our rifles, and recruiting ourselves for a long to-morrow. Sometimes we idle away the entire morning, and spend the afternoon in fishing-again take a deer in the morning, and after dinner dress hin, then perhaps, practice rifle-shooting towards evening. At another time a rain-storm sets in, which lasts two or three days, compelling us to keep close and do nothing. As these are all rather monotonous to me, the relation would be so to you-beside, one trout fishing

brain, had the powder but ignited. I immediately stepped forward with considerable alertness, though not without reflecting on the wonderful power electricity and magnetism exerted over the human system, especially under such circumstances.

I at length reached the hut, with a head bursting with pain; and, throwing myself on the floor, begged most piteously for a morsel of bread. I had been fourteen hours without food, and most of the time undergoing the severest toil. That night was one of pain to me, and as I turned on my rude bed,

I felt that for once I had "paid too dear for the

whistle."

Yours truly.

LONG LAKE-A FEARFUL NIGHT-A GALE IN THE WOODSMAN BITTEN BY A RABBIT.

LONG LAKE, August.

MY DEAR H——:

You must expect now and then a hiatus in my journal, for hours of idleness are indulged in here as well as in civilized life. To-day, wearied with yesterday's tramp, we may be loitering around the camp, cleaning our rifles, and recruiting ourselves for a long to-morrow. Sometimes we idle away the entire morning, and spend the afternoon in fishing—again take a deer in the morning, and after dinner dress him, then perhaps, practice rifle-shooting towards evening. At another time a rain-storm sets in, which lasts two or three days, compelling us to keep close and do nothing. As these are all rather monotonous to me, the relation would be so to you-beside, one trout fishing