26 THE ADIRONDACK. 



him — the bushes and flood-wood and rocks, are too 

 thick, — and he flounders like a sturgeon — I must lift 

 him or lose him. My slender rod almost doubles, and 

 quivers with the load ; but the good stick holds, and 

 the fellow is landed. There is absolutely terror in his 

 great black eye as he lies and pants on the rock. I 

 can't help it, my speckled beauty, it's a world where 

 we prey on each other. Beside, I have had nothing 

 but fried pork for three days, and I already gloat in 

 imagination over your salmon-colored flesh. I have 

 gone but half a mile, and let us see, I have forty. 

 That will do for to-day, and we will turn home. 



Passing through a clearing on a side-hill, on our way 

 back, we came upon a ham raisings called here a 

 ^' bee," because all the neighbors are invited to assist. 

 The rough frame was up, and a man was sitting on 

 the ridge pole, hallooing, " Here's a frame without a 

 name, and what'll ye call it ? Here's a frame without 

 a name, and what'll ye call it ? Here's a frame with- 

 out a name, and what'll ye call it ?" — '■^Side-hill drag''' 

 was shouted back from the sturdy group below. It 

 was christened with a hurra, and up went two old 

 drag-frames to the plates where they were left dang- 

 ling in the air. I could not but smile at this curious 



