CAMP AMONG THE BIRCHES. CAMP VIEWS. 197 



fishermen. We saw? caught by others, several bass of 

 about two pounds' weight each. I know that it is disputed 

 that these fish will drive out the trout, but I greatly fear 

 the result of the experiment will be that Raquette Lake 

 will cease to be the home of the gamiest and prettiest fish 

 that swims the water. 



Fn>m our tent on the beach we could see, across a beau- 

 tiful stretch of water, the smoke by day and fire by night 

 of a camp opposite. We one day visited this camp, charm 

 ingly located among the birches, and found a party of 

 ladies ;,nil gentlemen and fine lads, ten in number. Some 

 were swinging in hammocks, reading or sewing; one gen- 

 tleman was perched, with a book in his hand, on a boulder 

 out in the water; while others, with whom we fraternized, 

 were about the camp-tire, with the guides, talking deer 

 and trout, and watching the preparation of supper. The 

 entire party, with guides, at onetime numbered 'twenty- 

 six, they tuid me, and their friends were coming and going 

 when they chose, as t he encampment was to continue sev- 

 eral weeks. They had seen our white lent and camp-fire 

 across the water, and the single boat putting out from 

 shore, and with a glass spied the boy; and Ihey gave us ;i 

 generous welcome. 



Murray's Island is but. a few minutes' distance from our 

 Camping-ground, and a little to the left of our view in front. 

 Its rocky, bluff .-bores and heavy forest growth make a 

 pretty picture any day, but as the sun declined, the strong 

 sh.-idows on the water, contrasting with hoary rock and 

 green forest, were something bewildering in their fascina- 



