510 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



appearance in tlie afternoon, and its coming is considered 

 the universal signal for retreat from the fishing grounds, as 

 no heroism, not even that of Piscator, could long withstand 

 their assaults. 



We had taken about ten pounds of trout ; and the first 

 procedure, after reaching the camp, was to build a 'smudge,' 

 or smoke-fire, to drive away these abominable gnats, which 

 fortunately, take flight with the first whiif of smoke — and the 

 next was to prepare the fish for dinner, though not till all 

 had been carefully dressed by the guide, and placed in the 

 cold current of the little spring stream near, that they might 

 keep sound. 



Now came the rousing fire, and soon some splendid trout 

 "were piled upon dishes of fresh pealed elm bark before us. 

 They were very skillfully cooked, and 0, ye deluded Epicu- 

 reans ! let me tell ye ! ye know not, on your rich and 

 massive plate, the true flavor of this rare morsel for the Gods 

 to smack their lips at, that I took up in my fingers from the 

 bark dish — no, the ripe, high color of the flesh — the sweet, 

 melting, luscious, glorious titillation of the palate by which I 

 was exalted there in that rude shantee, to the highest heaven 

 of the sense, you cannot know ! The exquisite aroma has 

 passed away before it reaches you, fading with the splendid 

 colors of the skin, and ye cannot catch it ! Not all your 

 wealth can transport it in the season, delicious as we had it. 

 You can get them so in the winter, when it is cold enough to 

 freeze them instantly on coming from the water, but not 

 otherwise. 



The feast being over, then to recline back upon the fresh 

 couch of soft spruce boughs, and with a cigar in mouth, watch 

 the gathering ' night-shades ' brooding lower and more low 

 upon the thick wild forest in front — far into the depths of 

 which the leaping flames of our crackling fire go, darting 

 now and then with a revealing tongue of quick light — and 

 listening to the owl make hoarse answer to the wolf afar off 



