THE ADIRONDACKS. 77 



"With much careful stowage and trimming of sliip, the 

 impedimenta of the voyage are placed in the boats. Tents, 

 blankets, cooking utensils, provision hampers, rods, guns, 

 demijohns, satchels, and overcoats are piled up amidshijDS. 

 A backboard is nicely adjusted in the stern for the tourist, 

 who takes his seat and hoists his umbrella. The guide deftly 

 ships his oars, cuts a fresh piece of tobacco, and awaits orders 

 to start. Singly, and by twos or threes, the boats get away ; 

 cambric adieus are waved by the few receding friends on 

 'shore, and the household of St. James is left to finish its 

 slumbers till summoned to brealdast at 8 o'clock. Delicious 

 and vivifying is the pure morning au' ; grateful as a mother's 

 lullaljy the long sweep of the oars ; enchanting the shifting 

 sceneiy and ever-changing outline of shore. In a dreamland 

 of listless and "sweet do-nothing" the hours lapse away. 

 Cigar after cigar melts into smoke. Lunch is leisurely eaten 

 meanwhile. Through the outlet of one lake into the next, 

 winding through many a tortuous stream, gliding past many 

 an islet, with one boat ahead and another astern, and the 

 mechanical oars dripping diamonds of spray that flash in the 

 sun — what can be more deliciously pleasant — what freedom 

 from anxiety and business cares so complete ! 



" Hallo, guide, what's that ? Struck something ? Good 

 gracious, you aint going to stop here in this sedge-grass ! 

 "Why, the pesky mosquitoes are thicker than lightning. 

 Whew ! I can't stand this ! They'll eat us aUve." 



" Got to carry over here, mister. It's only a mile and a 

 half!" 



A mile and a half to tramp through woods, mud and mos- 

 quitoes! , . . 



Ah ! the lake once more ! This is bliss ! What a relief to 

 get on the water again, and away from the mosquitoes! 

 How clear it is ! What beautiful shores ! Anon into 

 the noble Raquette, with trees overarching, current slug- 

 gishly flowing, still waters running deep. Just here the 

 current is swifter. Toss your fly in, where it breaks over 



