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CHAPTER XIII. 



GOOD CAMPING-GROUND NIGHT FISHING ON THE LAKE TRAPPERS' 



STOCK-HOUSE SALE OF MY QUADRUPEDS IMMENSE SWAMP 



THE AMERICAN RAIL BEAUTIFUL SCENERY MY DEBUT IN RAIL- 



AT night we found a good camping-ground, with 

 many indications scattered around to show that it 

 had been employed previously for a similar purpose. 

 The horses, also, were not so badly off, for among the 

 sedge on the margin of the lake they appeared to 

 obtain an abundance of aquatic vegetation suited 

 to their palates. In front of us was a beautiful 

 little island, covered with trees to the water's edge. 

 Swamp-maple, birch, and elm, were interspersed with 

 pine, hemlock, and cedar, thus removing much of the 

 sombre hue so common in the northern portion of 

 the American landscape. 



About half-an-hour after dark to our surprise a 

 light upon the water was distinctly visible, moving 

 slowly along towards the north. My companion saw 

 it at the same moment as I did; but possibly doubting 

 the veracity of his eyes, made no remark. The more 

 I gazed, the more certain I became of the correctness 

 of a supposition I had formed that it was the torch- 

 light of fishermen. 



At once I piled more fuel on the embers that 



