662 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



most trying contre-temps. Instead of taking to his heels and making off 

 as fast as possible, as most inexperienced persons would have done, and 

 thereby courting pursuit and attack on the part of the beast, he stood his 

 ground manfully, and looking the sulky animal straight in the eyes for a 

 few moments, suddenly thrust open the old cotton umbrella, and waving 

 it furiously around his head in a very defiant manner, so alarmed the bear 

 by the monstrously-magnified appearance of his antagonist, that he turned 

 tail and was soon heard crashing at a terrible pace through the fastnesses 

 of the forest. 



The sun was just dipping behind the mountain in our rear as we reached 

 the Narrows. The atmosphere was bracing, and the surface of the Lake 

 was raised into little ripples by the gentle breeze which stole softly from 

 the north. We took our old station on the rock at the edge of the water, 

 and seeing a rise, made a cast and landed a beautiful Trout of two pounds. 

 Then another cast or two, and another victim was consigned to the floating 

 trap ; and thus we continued killing fish after fish till the shades of night 

 closed around us. 



One fact we particularly noted, that the very moment the sun sunk from 

 view behind the mountain tops directly in our rear, the fish rose to the fly 

 with increased avidity and boldness. This undoubtedly was the conse- 

 quence of our moving shadow on the water being no longer visible when 

 the sun had disappeared from view. On this point Hofland, in his Manual, 

 very properly remarks : — '* Avoid, if possible, fishing with the sun behind 

 you, as the moving shadow of yourself and rod will alarm the fish." 

 The Trout at times were wonderfully bold and persistent in their efforts 

 to seize the fly. I have seen the same fish brought to the surface a half, 

 dozen times in vain attempts to take the deception, but by some mischance 

 or other missing the lure on each occasion, and even following the attract- 

 ive morsel as it was drawn over the surface, two o^r three yards towards 

 the angler. 



^ " But look ! the morn, in russet mantle clad, 



Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill." 



The following day, the 26th, we fished in the morning at the Narrows. 

 We landed several good fish about the same weights as previously, none 

 under one pound, none over three. In the afternoon two sportsmen, who 

 came into the lakes by the way of Andover, arrived at the camp. From 

 what they told me, I am quite sure that it is the most pleasant as well as 

 economical way of reaching either the Upper Dam or Rich's Retreat, to 



