l6o THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



minutes, but finally raised himself to a sitting posture. Be- 

 hold him as he now sat there ! partly doubled up, lower 

 extremities extended and resting .on the earth, elbows rest- 

 ing on thighs, head drooping forward and clasped on either 

 side with a hand, — a perfect picture of despair. The face 

 is turned towards the earth, the mind is dazed, and he can- 

 not now recall his own doings during the day. Fortu- 

 nately, this mental condition was of short duration, — lasted 

 only about a quarter of an hour, — when he fully regained 

 consciousness and realized the fact that he was lost. He 

 once more assumed the standing position, and now carefully 

 surveyed the lake and the surrounding landscape. There 

 was nothing visible but this single lake, surrounded by 

 miles and miles of dark forest. He recalled the fact that 

 during this day's journeying he had passed eight or ten 

 lakes, but he observed nothing in the appearance of this 

 wilderness to indicate, at this time, their existence or locality. 



The sun had just disappeared behind the western hori- 

 zon. He now examined the contents of his pockets, and 

 discovered that he had only two cartridges for the shot-gun 

 left. He instantly resolved that he would do no more 

 shooting for the present, unless it became necessary for the 

 preservation of his life. There was no more time to be 

 lost by inactivity, wood must be gathered for the night's 

 fire, and some evergreen boughs placed on the surface of 

 the fiat rock in order to prepare it for a seat during his in- 

 voluntary sojourn. The photographer now set about the 

 performance of these duties, which engaged his attention 

 until the darkness of night had settled down about him. 



In the mean while, he had built a fire on the front part 



