280 CRANBERRY LAKK. — THE OSWEGAT( IIIK. 



arrest. However, as lie had executed a fleet and skillful tiauk 

 inoveineut just at the nick of time, and Avas now vigilantly 

 observant of all new comers in his domain, and knew the 

 woods thereabouts and their by-ways and retreats better 

 than any other living man, he was in no special need of any 

 suggestions, of a strictl)' leg^l nature, to promote the law's 

 delays, further than to " keep his eye peeled." The Sheriff 

 had to have his little joke smacking of his court room ex- 

 perience, and dryl}' remarked, "that's the best peal for 

 Joe!" 



Procuring another boat after dinner, we set out on our 

 journey up the river. Joe thought we might pick up a 

 trout or two in the Reservoir before we came to the flood- 

 wood. Ominous words! but they fell unheeded on our 

 ears, and we jointed our rods and selected our choicest flies 

 — for were we not going up Grass River? 



Alas! the water had been drawn low ; we speedily reached 

 the flood-wood, — acres and acres of trees, great and small, 

 hemlocks and spruces, torn from the l)anks above and dri-ven 

 by the rushing waters of the Spring freshets into the basin 

 through which we were to And our way. The surface was 

 nearl}' covered, but there was a passage somewhere if we 

 could find it. It was so intricate, however, that we often 

 mistook it and were led into places where retreat was the 

 only way out; and we lost much time and strength in 

 wearih^ forcing our boats in and out among tree-tops, logs 

 and tough, drowned alders. We at length were through 

 the trees, but a worse calamit}" befell us in the drowned 

 alder swamp, through which we were often compelled to 



