AMONG THE NORTHERN PINES 89 



borrowed by a Methodist preacher who was camp- 

 ing nearby, and was returned the same afternoon. 

 The minnow-trap had been rolled out into deep 

 water by the under-tow, and within twenty-four 

 hours of its disappearance was back in its 

 accustomed place and hard at work. The sealer 

 reappeared as suddenly and unaccountably as it 

 had disappeared. A new stringer was easily manu- 

 factured and, with a plentiful supply of minnows, 

 the bass needful to adorn the stringer were easily 

 persuaded to come to hook. The weather-man 

 repented of his unkindness and gave us days of 

 glorious sunshine. The lake dimpled and laughed, 

 the pines whispered all kinds of friendly messages, 

 the red-squirrels scolded at us from the tree-tops 

 where they were busy cutting off pine cones, and 

 the chipmunks made friendly advances as we sat 

 by the lakeside. The moon almost turned night 

 into day and night loons called to us, " Ha ! Ha ! 

 What's the matter with you? This is a beautiful 

 world. Minnesota is the finest part of the -world 

 and this is the fairest spot in Minnesota. Cheer 

 up ! " And we did. 



Now that we have gotten out of the dumps and 

 life is worth living, let's go fishing. What shall 

 it be ? Or will you take anything that comes your 

 way? There are bass and crappies and sunfish 

 and great northern pike, not to mention rock-bass 

 and perch. The natives aver that there are also 

 enormous wall-eyed pike and we believe it, although 



