412 THE ADIRONDACK. 



nothing for market, for the transportation ont costs 

 more than the article is worth. Hence he can neither 

 sell for money without loss, nor do anything in the way 

 of barter, except he carries out venison or deer skins. 

 The hunter, therefore, is the only man able to buy or 

 sell. Consequently, until a railroad shall be driven 

 through this wilderness, it will never be cleared up, 

 except here and there a hunter makes an opening for his 

 rude hut. The very slight increase in the way of popu- 

 lation that I detect, is owing almost entirely to the in- 

 crease of tourists, who necessarily leave considerable 

 money in the woods, and give occupation also to quite a 

 corps of guides. For the part I have taken in effecting 

 this change, I think the backwoodsmen and the owners 

 of this wild land should vote me at least a pair of 

 antlers. 



But I forget that I was to tell you about Blue Mountain 

 Lake. The morning after that stormy night-sail I rose 

 early and went out among the stumps of Beach's little 

 clearing to get a view of Kaquette Lake. It did not 

 look as if it ever could be in such an angry mood as it 

 was the night before. The ripples danced and laughed in 

 the early sunlight, and went frolicking around the green 

 islands, and in and out along the scalloped shores, as 



