SOUTH BRANCH AND NORTH BRANCH. 177 



Ou Tuesday, starting at noou, we made an afternoon trip 

 to Little Moose and Panther Lakes, which lie in the course 

 of the South Branch of Moose River. The first named lake 

 is sm'rounded liy beautiful shores, and is a charming sheet 

 of water. The day was too bright for good fishing, but we 

 enjoyed rowing and exploring, and have pleasant recollec- 

 tions associated with the lake. Panther Lake, a wild, 

 lonely little body of water, is a gem of exquisite beauty set 

 in the green of the forest. Out of the traveled course of 

 tourists and sportsmen, without a sign of human occupa- 

 tion, it is as purelj' a poet's dream of wildness and nature's 

 own inner sanctuary as anything I ever saw. 



The carries were only seventeen minutes from First Lake 

 to Little Moose, and six minutes from that to Panther 

 Lake. John thought nothing of " backing " his boat over 

 them both, going and coming, and rowing ou the lakes all 

 we desired. 



That evening an incoming party halted at our camp and 

 brought a letter, — the first and onlj' one we received during 

 our entire trip across the wilderness. A rolling stone 

 gathers no moss,-^and a roving fisherman gets few letters. 



An early breakfast on the following day — and at 8:30 A. 

 M. we were off on another excursion, to visit the North 

 Branch of Moose River. We went through Second and 

 Third Lakes of the Chain, and into Fourth to the carry 

 near Snyder's Camp, on the north shore, where we crossed 

 over to "Carry Pond," five-eighths of a mile. John 

 backed his boat, while the lad and I carried the oars, rub- 

 ber coats, lunch, rifle and fly-rods. Crossing the Pond, — 



