SALMON LAKE, 183 



"Myself, and no one else, I guess. I didn't know 

 you at first 'till I heard your voice," replied Mead, 

 seizing me by the hands in true American style and 

 nearly wrenching the wrists out of their sockets. 

 " And what are you doing in Albany ? " 



" I came to report the opening of the Legislature. 

 I've done my work and can now enjoy a week's 

 holiday." 



" So much the better ! In that case you can 

 come on with me this evening to my shooting-box 

 in the Highlands." 



"■ I certainly can't refuse, if you'll promise me 

 plenty of sport." 



" Fishing's the great sport now, and you shall 

 have plenty of that. So finish what you have 

 to do here, and meet me at the bar of the hotel 

 about five o'clock." 



At the stipulated time, I found Mead at his post, 

 imbibing a sherry- cobler with great gusto, whilst 

 a similar concoction was awaiting me. " Suck up 

 that," cried he, "and off we go." In a couple 

 of minutes, Ave had mounted the omnibus for the 

 steamer, and in a short time were descending the 

 Hudson towards Stony Point. At two in the 

 morning, the warning was given by the ringing of a 

 bell, and in a loud, intelligible voice that could be 

 heard all through the steamer : " Passengers for 

 Stony Point on deck ! " 



It was a pitch-dark night, but thanks to the light 



