OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 97 



It was in the office of this hotel that I first observed 

 Mr. Struce, of Brooklyn, New York, whom I recognized 

 as a sportsman by his dress, and the fact that he was car- 

 rying a gun. This gentleman afterwards became a mem- 

 ber of our party, and remained with us a few days while 

 we were encamped on Lake Ahmic, near Maganetawan 

 village. The hotel at which we were stopping, now the 

 only one at this point, was the resort of all the loungers 

 of the village as well as travellers. 



The evening meal was served in the dining-room soon 

 after our arrival, and there seemed to be about thirty 

 guests in the hotel. 



Experience had already taught me that it is very diffi- 

 cult to advance from this point into the forest if you are 

 burdened with more than ten or twelve pounds of lug- 

 gage, and consequently at an early hour in the evening I 

 began to make inquiry in regard to a conveyance to take 

 us to Maganetawan village, situated about thirty-seven 

 miles from this place. 



I learned at the hotel-office that a stage, now owned 

 and driven by a Mr. Bess, would leave for Maganetawan 

 the next morning, arriving at its destination some time in 

 the evening of the same day. The proprietor of this line 

 was soon pointed out to me, and in answer to my question, 

 " Can you take us to Maganetawan to-morrow ?" he in- 

 quired, " How much baggage have you ?" I informed him 

 that we had about one hundred and fifty pounds. He 

 immediately replied, " I cannot take your baggage to-mor- 

 row ; but I can take you and your companion, and will 

 deliver your baggage for you at Maganetawan village 



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