208 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



siderable size almost surrounding the lake. Neigh- 

 bouring lakes are to be found in nearly every 

 direction, one of them less than half a mile away. 

 From these lakes trout of large size may be taken, 

 but not with the fly; at least at the time of year 

 when we visited them. They seemed lazy and 

 somewhat indifferent even to the minnows offered 

 them. Now and then one would deign to respond 

 to our invitations, but it was never with any en- 

 thusiasm. It will always remain an open question 

 whether the huge trout that coquetted with Jim's 

 hook, one day, was a reality or a phantom. We 

 were on a lake some three miles from camp and 

 had taken a few fish. Fishing in some fifteen feet 

 of water, Jim had a strike and brought a big fish 

 so near to the surface that he was plainly seen by 

 the three of us, and then the exasperating rascal 

 quietly sank down out of sight. The bait was im- 

 mediately lowered and a prompt response secured 

 in the shape of another strike. Again tHe trout 

 came within clear view, and again, without any 

 apparent haste, disappeared. How many times this 

 was repeated deponent saith not; but the repetition 

 of this ungracious performance went on until even 

 Jim's patience was exhausted and we went on our 

 way. 



It was on this lake, near the outlet, that we 

 came upon a beaver-house, recently built. We did 

 not get a sight of the shy animals, but saw many 

 evidences of their work in the stumps and freshly 



