26 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



leader was a man of small stature, about thirty-five years 

 of age, with an erect figure and rather active in his move-; 

 ments. This man, whose name would probably have been 

 written " Bottcher" had he been unfortunate enough to be 

 born in Germany, we will now designate as John. 



The chief guide was accompanied by a young brother, 

 only seventeen years old, who was to go with us. This 

 boy was small in figure, resembled somewhat his brother, 

 and will hereafter on these pages be mentioned by the 

 name of Frank. The third, a man standing about six feet 

 without shoes, erect figure, well proportioned in every part 

 of the body, with a glossy black face, curly black hair, flat 

 nose, and projecting heels, was certainly the largest man in 

 our party, and proved a very efficient and honest guide. 



We will christen this man "Jim," and let the reader be 

 assured that although his skin was black he was in every 

 other respect " white." During his stay with us we found 

 him at all times faithful in the discharge of his duties and 

 likewise strictly honorable, preferring to be discharged 

 from our service rather than that we should be balked in 

 our efforts to obtain sport. It was settled in this bar-room, 

 prior to our retiring to our rooms for sleep, that we should 

 start at an early hour the next morning for Baysville, a 

 little hamlet situated on the south branch of the Muskoka 

 River, near " Lake of Bays." This beautiful lake is sit- 

 uated about fourteen miles northeast of Bracebridge and 

 one mile from Baysville. 



The chief guide had strongly recommended this lake ; 

 had spoken of it as the "sportsman's paradise" ; and it 

 afterwards was made plain to our minds that he, at least, 



