CHAPTER XVII. 



A SERIOUS BREAKDOWN. 



T was one of those rare days in the 

 woods, which, fortunately for the 

 sportsman whose time is limited, are 

 few, when the shelter of the camp 

 and the cheering influence of an open 

 fireplace were much to be preferred 

 to the cutting east wind that was making a minia- 

 ture ocean of our usually peaceful lake, and the 

 drenching which one would receive from the rain 

 that was falling without in torrents. 



We had enjoyed our usual mid-day meal, and 

 were smoking our pipes, gathered around a brightly 

 burning fire in John Danforth's snug and cheerful 

 lounging-room, connected with his camp at Parma- 

 chenee Lake. 



Charlie, who somehow managed either by hook 

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