XXXVI. 



COLBY POND — GOING AFTER BUTTER IN THE WOODS — 

 AN ODD TEAM — TROUT-FISHING IN COLD BROOK — 

 LAKE TROUT — EXCITING STRUGGLE BETWEEN A NEW 

 YORK LADY AND A FIFTEEN-POUNDER. 



Lower Saranac, July 12, 1858. 

 My Dear H : 



The rain is falling in torrents — the mountains around 

 are draped almost to their feet in clouds — the distant 

 islands, with their tall, blasted, leafless pine-trees, loom 

 dimly through the mist, and all is damp and drear and 

 desolate. . 



Last evening I saw a young man jump into one of the 

 boats and push off across the lake. I hailed him and 

 asked him where he was going. He replied : " After 

 butter." Seeing nothing but an unbroken forest on the 

 other side, I could not imagine from what secret recepta- 

 cle or hidden cave he was to obtain that certainly very 



