SARANAC EXCURSION. — "SANOEMo's." 117 



seem a very easy matter to tind the outlet or inlet of a lake, 

 but it is, in fact, exceedingi}^ diflicult. The hays and coves 

 and points are all delusive, and the stream you seek gener- 

 ally steals in or out obscurely, at some unexpected angle, 

 hardly making a sign of its presence until you are right 

 upon it. I had learned so much before, and now I noted 

 every land-mark closely, conscious that any failure to recall 

 these might result, on my. return, in an all-night's solitary, 

 supperless and tentless bivouac on a mosquito-infested 

 shore. 



Leaving my boat at the landing, I went over to St. 

 Germain's, on Big Clear Pond, a carry of two miles over 

 which the St. Grcrmain — or, "Sangemo" — boys draw boats 

 and luggage on a rude sled, with a very thin horse. The 

 walk is eas}^ and agreeable through the woods, and quite 

 a relief after sitting long in a boat. The St. Germain 

 family consists phiefl}^ of the father, a little old black-eyed, 

 shock-headed, voluble Canadian-Frenchman, and his wife 

 and three or four grown up boys who look as if they had 

 never been quite tamed. They are great hunters, — and 

 have l)een known to do close shooting, under imagined 

 provocation, at something not properly coming under the 

 head of game, except in a cannibal country. They had 

 several lumgny and whining hounds tied and penned up, 

 but no other wild animals, although a deer or a bear is 

 generally among the few attractions tliey offer to strangers. 



We were met liere b}^ a party of two gentlemen and two 



handsome ladies and three or four little children, with 



their guides, who were on their way from the Saranacs to 

 4 



