IN CAMP. 37 



meant it wicked, and it conveys a great deal. But 

 above all, and over all, more than compensating for 

 his minor failings, Joe is strictly honest : he will 

 take all you give him, but nothing that you do not : 

 not even a State constable's bete noir, though he 

 loves it, and never refuses when asked. I would 

 not give so much space to Joe, were it not that he 

 is part and parcel of the lakes themselves : all the 

 fishermen look upon him as their godfather ; and I 

 verily believe the trout are so fond of him, that 

 they cook themselves to a lovelier brown as they 

 look up from the pan into his anxious furrowed 

 face. I can see him now as he appeared at the 

 door of the camp- some two hours after our amiable 

 discussion in regard to tempus fitgit, and recall his 

 first salutation, thoughtful and kind as a mother's 

 care: "Miss Stevens sleep good, rro? rr "Yes, 

 Joe, first-rate, splendidly. rr "No- fly, rrrerskeeter, 

 no? " " Not a sign of 'em. See here, Joe,' r and 

 we take him into our room, and show him the can- 

 opy suspended over the bed He takes a: survey 

 of it, and a look of wonder gathers over his face : 

 the expression we have quoted above welte up to 

 his lips, but he restrains it. " Well, Joe, what do 

 you think of that?" " It is mce. rr " Yes, so it 

 is, my dear fellow, a camp-luxury. But how about 

 breakfast ? " " You have feesh, Mr. Stevens? " 



