42 JOCK'S LAKK. 



I accompanied the fishermen to the lake shore, towel in 

 hand, to make my morning toilet. After speedily accom- 

 plishing this, I half sat and half reclined on a rock, and 

 watched them as they rowed out to the fishing-grounds, 

 their voices and the dipping of the oars gradually 

 growing less and le>s di-tinet a^ tin- boat noiselessly glided 

 away. Behind me. at I lie ramp, busy preparations were 

 being made, as I could see. The smoke r<e from the fire, 

 thin and pale, in the bright sunlight ; Horace was moving 

 hither and thither witli spoon and dish and pail, while 

 George was seated on a log humbly peeling potatoes, that 

 being the least ski lied labor of the forest kitchen; Thomp- 

 son had a thousand little thing--, to do, but at t hi.- moment 

 was suspending a pocket mirror by a nail driven into a log 

 of the cabin, out of doors; John>on was examining and 

 cleaning his rifle; Wilkinson wa^ feeding and watering his 

 horses and preparing for his return homeward after break- 

 fast; while the circling forot looked -ilently on. The 

 whole scene was so new and strange to me that I forgot 

 that I was a member of this body politic and had tin- 

 duties of a citi/.en to perform with the rest. However, as 

 I was the youngest, and the Neophyte at that, and was not 

 counted as knowing the thing> "worth knowing" in tin- 

 woods, my inactivity attracted no attention. It was my 

 fortune, indeed, to be treated throughout the trip as a guest 

 and admitted to all the good things and spared all but tin- 

 inevitable labors. Thanks to the dear old bo\ 3] 



The fishermen soon returned with all the trout required 

 for the morning meal, and shortly after we wen 



