246 T^^ SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



durinof our absence. It had now been more than six weeks 

 since we had seen a newspaper. The photographer and 

 myself were highly pleased with the result of this election. 

 Crackers and cheese were obtained and sufficed to appease 

 our hunger, but our soreness was only increased by this 

 halt. The shades of night had gathered about us before 

 we renewed our journey. We were, therefore, compelled, 

 when we left the store and started off again for our ob- 

 jective-point, to walk in the middle of the road ; it was no 

 longer possible to pick our way or choose our path, since 

 the darkness was so great as to render invisible every 

 object situated more than three feet from us. At every 

 step taken in this mud we sank into it deeply, sometimes 

 even to our knees. It was no longer possible to walk 

 erect and pursue a straight course, but we reeled about 

 like drunken men, so great was our fatigue. Horrible! 

 horrible ! was this severe ordeal ! We could not halt for 

 the night. No shelter could be had after we left Berry- 

 ville until we reached Burk's Falls. Our situation was no 

 longer enjoyable. We had undertaken to perform a very 

 difficult task, too great a labor; but the plan could not be 

 changed, and therefore we pushed forward. We finally 

 arrived at our hotel about eicrht in the evening. We were 

 foot-sore and weary. George Ross, a strong backwoods- 

 man, was pale and trembled in every muscle ; my feet were 

 badly blistered and greatly swollen. I could scarcely 

 stand ; removed my shoes as quickly as possible after I 

 entered the hotel. Sent to the store and purchased a pair 

 of "arctics, which I promptly donned after taking a foot- 

 bath. The junior guide was thoroughly exhausted and 



