24 FISH : THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 



supper you talk a little, smoke if you wish, ' 

 and are soon all ready to roll up in your 

 blanket, and find your boughs a right com- 

 fortable couch. While lost in sleep, your 

 mind miles away, you suddenly start up. A 

 most terrific scream greets your ears at no 

 great distance, and another, answering, from 

 the opposite side. Your hair fairly stands 

 on end. " What's that?" you ask. "Oh, 

 nothing but the owls," answers the guide ; 

 and he turns over and is asleep at once. 

 You lie some time before you are lost again. 

 Morning comes. You are awake early, and 

 ready to jump up. The guide takes it rather 

 more easily, but soon is up, too ; and then 

 for the breakfast. While clearing up the 

 dishes the guide tells you, perhaps, about 

 Matalic, a poor old Indian, who formerly 

 lived all alone near where you are encamped, 

 how one night two hunters, caught by a 

 storm, found his camp, and stopped over 

 night. He was not there ; but in the morn- 



