FLY-FISHING IN MAINE LAKES. 207 



" Under a mistake ? " 



" No : under a canopy of purple and gold, instead 

 of a mosquito-netting held up by a gingham um- 

 brella, as I shall to-night." 



" Hush ! John, where are the toothpicks? " 



" In that otter's skull on the table." 



" Move over here, all of you ; and I will show 

 you how a murderer once disposed of all traces of 

 his victim. Now>pay attention. Fortunately these 

 are the double-pointed, unbreakable article, par- 

 ticularly adapted to double teeth ; and I am glad 

 of it, for, with any other kind, I could not illustrate 

 my story. 



" Observe, I have six ; and I interlace them thus, 

 placing the first three side by side, about half an 

 inch apart. The other three I place crosswise of 

 these, one at each end, and one in the middle, 

 interweaving them like a mat : thus, see. 



" This represents a spring bed or mattress upon 

 which the assassin placed the body, which I will 

 ask you, if you can, to imagine this owl's claw to 

 be; and, if you ever show this to a friend, don't 

 put on more weight than two or three tooth- 

 picks. 



" Now I light a match, and set fire to this 

 extreme corner of the bed." 



" Won't any corner do as well? " 



