MY FIRST GRAYLING. 283 



turc. We saw enough to enable us to comprehend the sit- 

 uation of a boat swiftly descending the rapids around a 

 point and coming suddenly upon a prostrate mammoth 

 cedar, all bristling with sharp, dead limbs right across the 

 water highway, at just the most inconvenient height above 

 the stream. The old college problem what, would be the 

 result if an irresistible force should strike an immovable 

 object ? hardly suggests a more disagreeable predicament. 

 On either side of the river a belt of heavy limber grows, 

 partially because fed by the moisture of the stream, perco- 

 lating through the soil, and partly because the ground is 

 bottom lands." The higher -Tound, rising I nick from 

 the river, so far as I saw, is mainly sandy soil and partially 

 covered by a seaiil\ growth of stunted jack pine. A de- 

 pres-i<.n in the surface, gathering and confining the rain- 

 fall, produce^ ; , heavy TO \\ih of 'limber. 



Down the wood-fringed, embowered aisle of the An Sable 



we were at length swiftly gliding, under the tutelary care 

 and vigorous pol'mu of our two boatmen. For six or seven 

 miles there was no fishing, and we had ample time and 

 opportunity to observe the beauties of the charming river, 

 winding gracefully and rapidly down its course; its cold, 

 clear waters reve-iling the sandy bottom; the air pure, fresh 

 and invigorating. 



At length, the word was given, "there are grayling 

 here!" I made my lirsl cast. In a Hash, with a leap out 

 of water, a lisli sei/ed the lly before it touched (he surface, 

 and was fairly hooked, with scarcely an effort of mine. I 

 hastily drew him in he weighed only four ounces and, 



