IN THE NORTH WOODS 55 



noise." Possibly it was the Preacher's vociferous 

 hilarity that explains why we " jacked " around the 

 shores of the lake that night for two hours without 

 sighting anything more animated than a dead 

 stump. The Preacher was comparatively young 

 then and had not learned that the less we know 

 about a matter the more unrestrained and cock- 

 sure we may be in discussing it. 



Not a few experiences are more amusing when 

 considered in retrospect than at the time when they 

 are going forward. When the guide proposed to 

 the Preacher that they visit a little lake a couple of 

 miles from the cabin, try for trout at sundown and 

 then float for deer when darkness had fallen, the 

 proposition was greeted with applause. Although 

 the trail was not an easy one, the guide carried a 

 canoe on his shoulders and the Preacher trudged 

 on behind with the guns and rods, his mind filled 

 with alluring visions of mighty trout and at least 

 one big buck. When the lake was reached and it 

 came time to joint the rods, it was discovered that 

 the reels and lines had been forgotten. The fly- 

 book, with its gaudy contents, was in the Preacher's 

 pocket, but neither of the two felt competent to do 

 any successful fishing without a line. It would be 

 dark before the trip to camp and back could be 

 made and, reluctantly, the fishing part of the trip 

 was abandoned. That night there was no moon to 

 compel them to wait upon its slow movements, and 

 as soon as darkness had fallen the " jack " was 



