290 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



I 



some salmon pools at the Grand Falls on the next morn- 

 ing — a twelve miles' walk. There was a nice camp (so 

 reported) all ready to receive us. Feverish from the heat 

 of the woods, and the severe biting we had received from 

 the huge moose flies and clouds of mosquitoes on the 

 way, we reached the spot long after sundown, in hopes 

 of finding shelter and a good night's repose, for we were 

 fatigued. An old camp of the meanest construction was 

 found, after considerable search with birch-bark torches, 

 and under its very questionable shelter we extended our- 

 selves in front of a meagre fire which had been kindled 

 with difiiculty, there being nothing but fir woods around. 

 Presently we found that the whole of the ancient bedding 

 of dry fir boughs was overrun by large black ants. Now, 

 I had rather be coursed over by rats than by ants at 

 night, as the former vermin seldom act on the ofiensive 

 towards a sleeping human being ; and so, sleep was out 

 of the question till the enemy was exterminated. To 

 effect this, we arose and parted with our beds — to wit, 

 the brown spruce boughs, which we committed to the 

 flames. We then again tried to rest, lying down in the 

 ashes round the flre, but no — on they came again in 

 battalion. With one consent we arose, and rushed up 

 the hill-side into the dark woods, depositing ourselves in 

 the soft moss under the hemlocks. Presently down came 

 a new enemy — pattering drops of rain, precursors of a 

 heavy summer shower. Back to camp ; but the ants 

 had not retired for the night ; so, peeling off the sheets 

 of bark from the poles, we finally sought a hard bed on 

 the naked rocks by the water's edge, shielding ourselves 

 from the rain with our birchen waterproofs. Next morn- 

 ing it was discovered that our little packet of tea, care- 



