OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 147 



cessary for us to spend more than a small portion of our 

 time in procuring these necessities ; consequently, both 

 long and short journeys were made into the surrounding 

 forest with no other object than spending our time pleas- 

 antly. It should, nevertheless, be here confessed that 

 nature frequently rewarded us for these labors, even be- 

 yond our expectations, revealing to us at such times her 

 grandest secrets. It was during our stay on this lake that 

 the photographer and I started out one afternoon, taking 

 with us bird-dogs and shot-guns, although the chief object 

 of this trip was not to gather in partridges for food, but 

 rather to study nature in this grand solitude. We walked 

 together probably about one mile, chatting pleasantly in 

 the mean time, when I separated from him for the purpose 

 of investigating a deep and dark ravine, which I was at 

 that moment entering. The desire to be alone, entirely 

 alone, so far as human companionship was concerned, had 

 taken complete possession of my soul. I therefore in- 

 formed Mr. Mildenberger that we would separate here, 

 and that I would rejoin him at the head of the lake. Two 

 bird-dogs remained with me, while one accompanied the 

 photographer ; even this companionship was now more than 

 I desired. Faithful Ponto commonly afforded me much 

 satisfaction by his persevering efforts to find game, and 

 little Romp often amused me by his wild antics ; but that 

 afternoon I frequently wished that they were both back in 

 camp. 



The sun was shining brightly, but nevertheless the 

 depth of the ravine which I had entered was so great, and 

 the shadows of the giant trees which overhung its borders 



