FOREST LIFE PLAY. 21 



Sport. Major Wiley, as master of the ceremonies, di- 

 vided the spoils among the hunters, and all retired to 

 their homes satisfied and contented with their opera- 

 tions. 



FOREST LIFE-PLAY* 



BETWEEN the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain, lies 

 a broad tract of country, covered with dense forests 

 abounding with deer, and pierced by lakes and streams, 

 which, beautiful in themselves, are still more attractive 

 to many from their store of trout. Hills, dales, wood, 

 water, leafy trees, herbage, are enough for some people ; 

 others cannot be happy amid them, without their rod 

 and gun. 



It was to this latter class that the party belonged, who, 

 one fine morning, found themselves in this lovely district, 

 bent on having a holiday ; guns, dogs, fishing-rods, tents, 

 all were there for a month's scramble in the forest. Part 

 of their equipment consisted of two boats, one for them- 

 selves, the other for their baggage, which was to be sent 

 forward in advance, in order that tents might be pitched 

 for the night, wherever the little company might choose 

 to rest, or linger for a shot. The boats used for this 

 purpose, are small and very light ; for " rapids," that is, 

 cataracts in miniature, interrupt many of the American 

 rivers ; and when the voyagers come to one of these, the 



* " Wild Scenes in North America.'' HAMMOND. 



