176 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



A few low islands covered with ferns partially broke the 

 breadth of the river, which here left the smooth expanses 

 of the lake on its race to the Atlantic, about twenty 

 miles below ; and here our rods bent incessantly over 

 the struggles of trout, frequently two at a time. We 

 intend staying here several days to rest after the long 

 weary journey up and down the Tobiaduc stream ; and 

 as it is now September, a brace or two of ruffed grouse, or 

 even a moose steak, may add to our hitherto scanty forest 

 fare of porcupine and trout. Beneath these white oaks 

 repose the sires of the Micmacs of this district ; it was 

 once a populous village, of which the only remaining 

 tokens are the swelling mounds covered with fern, and 

 the plentiful bones, the produce of the chase, scattered 

 over the ground. Our canoe-men seemed quite subdued, 

 perhaps a little overcome by superstitious awe on pitch- 

 ing our camp here on the site of their ancestors' most 

 favoured residence. With a road through to the town 

 of Liverpool, this lovely spot will one day, ere long, 

 become a thriving settlement. I would desire no more 

 romantic retreat were I to become a settler ; but always 

 bear in mind the lesson inculcated for all intending mili- 

 tary settlers who may be carried away by their enthu- 

 siasm for the picturesque scenery of the summer and fall 

 in Nova Scotia, to try their luck away back from civili- 

 zation, in the well-told and pathetic story of ' Cucumber 

 Lake,' by Judge Haliburton. To-day Glode and I walked 

 back from the lake about three miles, through thick 

 woods, to see a beaver-house on a brook of which he 

 knew. We found it without difficulty, as the grass and 

 fern for some distance below was much trodden down, 

 and proceeded to make a careful investigation of its 



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