288 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



smart as could well have been found. The captain 

 took a great deal of pleasure in his craft, and handled 

 her as none but a man of experience could ; besides, 

 he was half owner, and this made him have an interest 

 in all the details that one employed by the month or 

 cruise would be unlikely to possess. In talking to the 

 skipper, reading, and looking over my tackle, the day 

 passed rapidly, and as night closed in and the breeze 

 lessened, I concluded that I had seldom passed a 

 pleasanter day. 



After supper, MacGregor produced his rods and fly- 

 book for my inspection, and a long and careful exami- 

 nation we had of these common subjects of interest. 

 His rods were remarkably heavy, longer than I should 

 deem necessary, while his flies were coarsely tied, 

 although the colouring was all that could be desired. 

 If one had been dismembered, I have little doubt, 

 from the dubbing and feathers of which it was com- 

 posed, three, or at least two, of my treasures could 

 have been fabricated. Of course, I soon produced my 

 tools, to all of which he gave an abundance of praise, 

 but doubted if they could do more execution than his 

 own. My reel, alone, he acknowledged to be better 

 than his, and concluded, if ever he went to New 

 York,* he'd be guilty of purchasing its counterpart. 

 Bedtime arrived, and having discussed a nightcap, I 

 turned into my bunk, while the captain went on deck 

 to keep the middle watch with the second mate, a 

 practice he always followed when on the coast. The 

 motion was just sufficient to lull me to sleep, and soon 

 my eyes were closed to the outer world. Three hours 

 at the utmost must I have been asleep, when the 

 * Made by Andrew Clerk and Co., of Maiden Lane. 



