56 " jock's lake. 



the dropping of our hooks iu the water was like smiting a 

 mirror into fragments, — so utterly quiet and glassy-calm 

 was the surface, — and the trout, as w^ell as we, seemed to 

 be in a revery after a lunching of their own. 



We had been told of a rock on the west shore, " as big 

 as a house," placed or misplaced thereby some convulsion 

 of nature. It was visible from afar, and we p,ut ashore 

 near its base. Thompson and Horace sat on a rock by the 

 water in the shade, while I paid a visit of curiosity and 

 respect to the mysterious stranger. A tree had fallen 

 against its side, and on that I climbed as far as the tree 

 went and then clambered on a precarious footing up the 

 nearl}^ perpendicular side to the top. It was ovei' twenty 

 feet high, and about thirty feet by fifteen on the top, and 

 in general outlines rectangular, a conglomerate boulder, 

 with shining quartz intermingled with sand stone. I 

 pecked some of the jewels from his crown and put them 

 in my pocket for souvenirs. The grand old fellow had a 

 histor}" but he was mute and silent in our presence, and 

 refused to be interviewed. 



After our early supper, we all gathered about the camp- 

 tire, as usual, to talk over the affairs of the da}" and to 

 enjoy the pipes and jokes and stories. 



The rabbits, by this time, had become (juite accustomed 

 to our presence, and came out after sunset from the shrub- 

 bery at the upper end of our little farm, to feed. We were 

 greatly ammused and interested in their play, and watched 

 them with the spirit of a naturalist, until some earthy- 

 minded soul suggested that rabbits made an excellent stew. 



