242 THE HALCYON IN CANADA. 



sound or motion on shore was heard or seen. Near 

 the lake we came to a long, shallow rapid, when we 

 pulled off our shoes and stockings and with our trou- 

 sers rolled above our knees towed the boat up it, 

 wincing and cringing amid the sharp, slippery stones. 

 With benumbed feet and legs we reached the still 

 water that forms the stem of the lake and presently 

 saw the arms of the wilderness open and the long 

 deep-blue expanse in their embrace. We rested and 

 bathed, and gladdened our eyes with the singularly 

 beautiful prospect. The shadows of summer clouds 

 were slowly creeping up and down the sides of the 

 mountains that hemmed it in. On the far eastern 

 shore near the head, banks of what was doubtless 

 white sand shone dimly in the sun, and the illusion 

 that there was a town nestled there haunted my 

 mind constantly. It was like a section of the Hud- 

 son below the Highlands, except that these waters 

 were bluer and colder, and these shores darker than 

 even those Sir Hendrik first looked upon ; but surely, 

 one felt, a steamer will round that point presently, or 

 a sail drift into view ! We paddled a mile or more 

 up the east shore, then across to the west, and found 

 such pleasure in simply gazing upon the scene that 

 our rods were quite neglected. We did some casting 

 after a while, but raised no fish of any consequence 

 till we were in the outlet again, when they responded 

 so freely that the " disgust of trout " was soon upon 

 us. 



At the rapids, on our return, as I was standing to 



