32 jock's lake, 



structed) was in tlie true, primitive style of a camper's 

 couch, — hemlock boughs on the ground, "shingled" so 

 that the butts of tlie boughs were covered by the feathery 

 leaves. These, laid properly and to the depth of four or 

 five inches, constituted a bed which onl}' needed its cover 

 ing of blankets or rubber cloth to be comi)lete, alwaj^s 

 "ready made" and quite as welcome after a long day's 

 tramp as the luxurious couch of easy days wiien sleep 

 comes reluctantly and only lightly touches the ej'elids. 



"Well, gentlemen." said Thompson, as he drew himself 

 up from a recumbent to a sitting posture, after a brief rest, 

 "I beg leave to suggest to you the eminent propriety of 

 beginning life here on the old-fashioned plan." 



' ' What's that?" struck up three or four voices, with varied 

 degrees of vigor, as the indolent fellows, flat on their backs, 

 kicked their heels into the turf. 



"Let's have the plan, Thompson, — no matter what's the 

 fashion," said Benson, as he lazily rolled over towards the 

 first speaker. 



"The plan ! the plan! Give us the plan!" came out in 

 chorus. 



"Why, eating, of course! — I suppose there isn't anything 

 much more old-fashioned than that, except breathing, and 

 that couldn't have had much the start. As for me, I've 

 got my breath all right again, after that rather long walk; 

 and, following the logical order and the natural inclination, 

 after all this exercise, I propose next to eat. — I say, Wilkin- 

 son, where are your boats? Some of these crazy fishermen 

 who have been talking trout all the way from Utica, want 



