BIRCH BROWSINGS 179 



over the centre of it, keeping watch and ward. If 

 an intruder approached, they would dart at him 

 spitefully. These fish have the air of bantam cocks, 

 and, with their sharp, prickly fins and spines and 

 scaly sides, must be ugly customers in a hand-to- 

 hand encounter with other finny warriors. To a 

 hungry man they look about as unpromising as hem- 

 lock slivers, so thorny and thin are they; yet there 

 is sweet meat in them, as we found that day. 



Much refreshed, I set out with the sun low in 

 the west to explore the outlet of the lake and try 

 for trout there, while my companions made further 

 trials in the lake itself. The outlet, as is usual 

 in bodies of water of this kind, was very gentle and 

 private. The stream, six or eight feet wide, flowed 

 silently and evenly along for a distance of three or 

 four rods, when it suddenly, as if conscious of its 

 freedom, took a leap down some rocks. Thence, as 

 far as I followed it, its descent was very rapid 

 through a continuous succession of brief falls like 

 so many steps down the mountain. Its appearance 

 promised more trout than I found, though I re- 

 turned to camp with a very respectable string. 



Toward sunset I went round to explore the inlet, 

 and found that as usual the stream wound leisurely 

 through marshy ground. The water being much 

 colder than in the outlet, the trout were more plen- 

 tiful. As I was picking my way over the miry 

 ground and through the rank growths, a ruffed 

 grouse hopped up on a fallen branch a few paces 

 before me, and, jerking his tail, threatened to take 



