GENERAL REMARKS. 17 



abundant food to support him. He will acquire an 

 insight into the mystery of woodcraft, and learn a 

 few of its wonders and delights ; he will come to 

 rely upon his own stout muscles and sharp eyes, 

 and return to the city a renovated being. Or, if 

 he have sufficient enthusiasm and high courage, he 

 may cast aside all trammels, and taking his rifle or 

 rod, salt pork, and hard bread, strike off into the 

 trackless forest with no covering to shield him from 

 the rain or sun, no floating thing of beauty to bear 

 him in its bosom over the water, no store of pro- 

 visions to fall back upon if fish do not rise and the 

 bullet flies astray ; but bearing bravely up against 

 heat and weariness, sleeping, amid the rain and 

 storm, wrapped in the heavy coat, catching or kill- 

 ing game sufficient for daily food, or going hungry 

 till better luck shall interpose. This, indeed, is 

 manhood ; and our country, with its vast solitudes, 

 its unbroken forests, its network of water-courses, 

 its endless chains of lakes, its vast mountains and 

 limitless prairies, offers inducements for such a life 

 that no other land possesses. 



As pretty full instructions have been given in the 

 Game Fish of North America to aid the learner in 

 commencing his experiences of camp life, the reader 

 who desires such information is referred to that work ; 

 but whether he shall go into the solitary wilderness, 

 away from man and human habitation, or can only 

 tear himself from business for a few hours for a fly- 

 ing visit to some quiet preserve near the bustling 

 dty, he should never forget that he is a sportsman, 



