MOOSE HUNTING. 93 



an ankle-boot, and is sewn tip tightly at the toe, and, 

 with this exception, being without seam, is nearly water- 

 tight. The interior of Cope Castle was not very sweet, 

 nor were its contents arranged in a very orderly manner 

 — this latter fact to be accounted for, perhaps, by the 

 absence of the lady. Portions of moose were strewed 

 everywhere ; potatoes were heaped in various comers, and 

 nothing seemed to have any certain place of rest allotted 

 to it. Smoke-dried eels were suspended from the rafters, 

 in company with strings of moose-fat and dried cakes of 

 concrete blue-berries and apples. Joe had, however, some 

 idea of the ornamental, for parts of the Illustrated News 

 and Punch divided the walls with a number of gaudy 

 pictures of saints and martyrs. 



The repast being over, the Indians strided out, replete, 

 with lighted pipes, and paddles in hand, to the beach. 

 Some fresh moose-meat was placed in the canoe, with a 

 basket of Joe's " 'taters," which, Jem said, " 'twas hardly 

 any use boiling, they were so good, they fell to pieces." 

 A little waterproof canvas camp was spread over the rolls 

 of blankets, guns, camp-kettles, and bags containing the 

 grub, which were stowed at the bottom ; and, having 

 seated myself beside them, the Indians stepped lightly 

 into the canoe and pushed her off, when, propelled by 

 the long sweeping strokes of their paddles, we glided 

 rapidly up the lake. 



Indian Lake is a beautiful sheet of water, nearly ten 

 miles in length, and, proportionally, very narrow — per- 

 haps half a mile in its general breadth. EoUing hills, 

 steep, and covered with heavy fir and hemlock wood, 

 bounded its western shore ; those on the opposite side 

 showing large openings of dreary burnt country. The 



