230 CRANBERRY LAKE. THE OSWEGATCHIE. 



arrest. However, as he had executed a fleet and skillful Hank 

 movement just at the nick of time, and was now vigilantly 

 observant of all new comers in his domain, and knew tin- 

 woods thereabouts and their by-ways and retreats better 

 than any oilier living man. he was in no special need of any 

 suggestions, of a strictly legal nature, to promote the law's 

 delays, further than to "keep his eye peeled." The Sherifl' 

 had to have his little joke smacking of his court room e\ 

 perience, and dryly remarked, "that's the best 'peal for 

 Joe!" 



Procuring another boat after dinner, we set out on our 

 journey up the river. Joe thought we might pick up a 

 trout or two in the Reservoir before we came to the flood- 

 wood. Ominous words! but they fell unheeded on our 

 cars, and we jointed our rods and selected our choicest flies 

 for were we not going up Grass River? 



Alas! the water had been drawn low; we speedily reaelu d 

 the flood- wood, acres and acres of trees, un-ai and small, 

 hemlocks and spruces, torn from the banks above and driven 



by the rushing waters of the Spring frohets into the basin 

 through which we were to find our way. The surface was 

 nearh covered, but there was a passage somewhere if we 

 could find it. It was so intricate, however, that we often 

 mistook it and were led into places when- retreat was tin- 

 only way out; and we lost much time and strength in 

 wearily forcing our boats in and out among tree-tops, logs 

 and tough, drowned alders. \\ e at length were through 

 the trees, but a worse calamity befell us in the drowned 

 alder swamp, through which we were often compelled to 



