126 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



we dipped him out for present use. This corral, 

 backed up by our supply of ice, gave us full assurances 

 that our good luck would not be followed by reckless 

 waste. 



But I had almost forgotten the chief incident of this 

 memorable day. As we approached the camp we saw 

 "Jim" on the shore dancing a double "Virginny 

 break-down " and grinning all over from head to foot ; 

 his shining ebony face and gleaming teeth fairly illum- 

 inating the coming darkness. On seeing us he yelled 

 out, " I got him, gentlemen ; I beats you all ; takes this 

 nigger to catch fish ! " 



The imp had actually made for himself a raft of 

 drift-wood, paddled it out to deep water, and taken 

 with bait a great salmon trout of twenty pounds ! and 

 it was now swimming about in the corral like a very 

 leviathan among my morning's catch. This tickled us 

 all so immensely that we then and there bestowed upon 

 " Jim " an extra " quarter " each. This boy was indeed 

 a treasure ; a first-class cook and care-taker 5 willing, 

 faithful, and honest ; while his store of songs, exhibits 

 of dancing, and never-failing fun and good-humor, 

 would have sufficed to keep cheerful any camp in the 

 world. Poor fellow ! he was drowned two years later 

 in Lake Michigan, while bathing. 



If I did not fear to spin out this already dull narra- 

 tive to an inordinate length, I should like to give a 

 detailed account of each of the twelve days we fished 

 and shot in this vicinity. 



