116 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



were all in ship-shape and thoroughly comfortable. 

 "Jim" slung his hammock between and beneath two 

 umbrageous trees, and by eight o'clock, with a full 

 stomach and clear conscience, was roosting in it, happy 

 as a lord ! From this coign of vantage, with the gath- 

 ering darkness to hide his Hushes, he favored us with 

 several choice negro melodies rendered in a style and 

 with a pathos which any "professional" might have 

 envied. As the night deepened we drank in with ap- 

 propriate senses all the delights of our surroundings. 

 The great fire before which we three sat, lighting up 

 with weird and fantastic effects the sombre foliage of 

 the adjacent forest ; the plaintive cry of the distant 

 loon ; the harsher notes of the bittern, and the even, 

 gentle murmur of the softly lapping waves, all united 

 to inspire us with a sense of freedom and happiness 

 unknown to the busy world. Serene and contented, 

 we " turned in " at ten, with blissful anticipations for 

 the morrow. "We had not forgotten that prime neces- 

 sity of a well-ordered camp, light, but had brought with 

 us several pounds of sperm candles, two gallons of oil 

 and a good swinging lamp, which, suspended from the 

 centre-pole, not only rendered the tent cheerful, but 

 gave facilities for performing with ease and comfort the 

 thousand and one little jobs which precious daylight 

 could not be wasted upon. Reader, did you ever "camp 

 out " in the midst of a dense grove of pine or spruce 

 trees ? If not, you have yet to enjoy the- luxury of the 

 most balmy and refreshing sleep which can bless mortal 



