230 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



day, we replenished the fire, for the nights were chilly in 

 those mountains, turned in and slept soundly. 



At dawn we were astir, our breakfast was soon dispatched, 

 and rods in hand, we sallied forth in quest of new achieve- 

 ments. The weather was wild, windy, and unfavorable for 

 fly-fishing, and when at noon we assembled for dinner, it 

 was found that the catch of the bait rods had the advantage 

 in both numbers and weight, whereat my friends rejoiced. 

 And while dinner was in progress I noted occasional innuen- 

 dos concerning the inferiority of flies as compared with bait. 

 None of the Trout thus far taken, were more than a pound 

 in weight, but my friends were very desirous that some of the 

 big fellows of which they had heard might fall victims to their 

 skill. I remarked that we had already corraled five times as 

 many Trout as we could use, and that most anglers would be 

 well satisfied with such a catch, whether size or numbers were 

 considered. But the big Trout still formed the burden of their 

 conversation. 



After an hour's rest we walked along the shore in the 

 direction of an old catamaran or raft formed of two logs 

 about twenty feet long, which had been placed side by side, 

 and rudely connected by cross-bars and withes. Some dis- 

 cussion was held about the propriety of putting out into the 

 lake upon this raft, but the gusts which swept the surface 

 seemed to render such a voyage inexpedient. During the 

 conversation I had advanced to the end of the catamaran 

 which lay off shore, and was casting my fly toward the cen- 

 ter of the lake, while joe, with an improvised handspike in- 

 serted beneath the raft, essayed to move it from its resting 

 place. Much to his surprise the crazy fastenings of the logs 

 gave way, and the outermost one on which I was standing, 

 intent upon my cast, aided by an inopportune puff of wind, 

 swung outward and away from shore. I did not realize my 

 situation until a warning shout caused mc to turn my head — 

 too late. 



