OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 245 



did not care to repeat the effort lest I might not add to my 

 reputation as a marksman ; and, consequently, I now placed 

 my gun in the captain's hands and requested him to try his 

 skill. He fired two shots and killed a bird each time, 

 although they were not within a short range. The wood- 

 chopper was now apparently greatly impressed, and asked 

 permission to examine the rifle, which he was promptly 

 allowed to do. He seemed to admire the gun very much, 

 and asked many questions about its cost, etc., and then 

 complained that the backwoodsmen were so badly supplied 

 with firearms. He finally remarked that if they possessed 

 better guns they could then supply themselves with meat, — 

 an article which was very seldom seen in these poor cabins. 

 This wayside chat was now brought to an end, and 

 we bade our new-made acquaintance "good-by," and once 

 more resumed our tramp. Half an hour later we came up 

 with the photographer and the junior guide. The captain 

 now suggested that he would wait by the roadside until 

 the wagon carrying the trophies should come up, in order 

 to render the driver such assistance as he might require 

 on the rough road. I now went forward in company with 

 the photographer and George Ross. The road was in a 

 horrible condition ; mud and water greatly impeded our 

 progress, while in many places the clay held so tena- 

 ciously to our feet that it was very fatiguing to move for- 

 ward even at a slow pace, consequently we plodded slowly 

 along. It was five o'clock when we reached Berryville. 

 We were then five miles from Burk's Falls. At this point 

 we entered a small country store and learned that Mr. 

 Cleveland had been elected President of the United States 



