'56 



TJic American A)io:lcr. 



story he has heard, or invented. Each 

 tale suggests another, and the trumps 

 are turned, and pipes re-lit, and fires 

 poked lip, while the* waves ripple on the 

 shore, and the far-off labor of the steam- 

 boats comes faintly to the ears, until 

 an owl, hooting overhead, inspires some 

 one to look at his watch, and discover 

 it is midnight. Then all roll in, the 

 owl hoots on, and the frogs croak, and 

 the next minute someone awakes to find 

 the sun streaming in from the top of the 

 eastern hill, and all the life of a new 

 day singing its song about him. The 

 commisary goes to the river to " run his 

 line," and shortly returns with two fine 

 channel cat-fish, ready for the frying- 

 pan. He has taken them overnight, 

 without rod or reel, and he knew not 

 when they came to his bait, but there 

 are seven hungry men awaiting break- 

 fast, and not inclined to ask qustions. 

 At eight o'clock, one or perhaps two, 

 for company, are left to tend camp, while 

 the others man the small boats, take 

 up the submerged minnow buckets and 

 start, one crew for the dike above, and 

 one for the tributary stream on the 

 Illinois shore. The first expect a catch 

 of striped bass, "fiddlers," catfish, jack 

 salmon, and perhaps, an occasional 

 black bass. The latter are going in 

 among the still pools to lure out the 

 wily bass, croppie and sunfish. These 

 may be said to comprise the fish termed 

 game in the waters of this locality. 

 They take the hook often sluggishly, 

 and sometimes, with considerable spirit, 

 but never as the trout or cold water lake- 

 fish do. Nevertheless, their capture is 

 enough gamy to give zest to the pas- 

 time, and when the ever-present gar is 



not too attentive, atid the water at the 

 right stage, they may, generally, be 

 taken. We have been fairly successful, 

 and go in at noon with what we con- 

 sider a fine string, only to find ourselves 

 out-done, both as to numbers and size, 

 by the fellows on the dike. And, but, 

 we will excuse this beat, the stay-at- 

 homes have surprised a couple of dozen 

 of big greenhead croakers back in the 

 lake, and the pan is already wriggling 

 with the gyrations of fresh frogs' legs 

 as we come up. The mid-day feast 

 follows, and is disposed of with a zest 

 and gusto that it is not necessary to 

 describe. After an hour's rest another 

 trip is inade to the fishing places, and 

 the morning's catch dviplicated. Had 

 the fish failed to bite we should prob- 

 ably have gone foraging in some rural 

 barnyard, and the guns at trap and 

 target would have afforded ample pas- 

 time ; but they were not needed, and 

 will be ready for another time. After 

 a sun-down supper the camp is broken 

 up, repacked on board the yacht, and 

 the start made for home in the cool of a 

 perfect evening. It has been, by com- 

 mon consent, a royal outing ; not ex- 

 pensive nor stylish, but like unto the 

 life of the races who flourished and 

 grew to ■ marvellous old age in these 

 regions, and whose bones repose in the 

 furrowed fields that furnish the pro- 

 duce to support the busy, buzzing 

 mart of trade of which we are a part. 

 We shall go soon again. Would you 

 like to accompany us, reader ? You 

 are welcome to come and undergo the 

 woodsman's test of fitness. The river 

 is big and deep, and there are plenty of 

 fish uncaught, and room enough for all. 



