BIRCH BROWSINGS. 193 



rise, or to touch any kind of bait ; so we fell to catch- 

 ing the sun-fish which were small but very abundant. 

 Their nests were all along shore. A space about the 

 size of a breakfast-plate was cleared of sediment and 

 decayed vegetable matter, revealing the pebbly bottom, 

 fresh and bright, with one or two fish suspended over 

 the centre of it, keeping watch and ward. If an in- 

 truder approached, they would dart at him spitefully. 

 These fish have the air of bantam cocks, and with 

 their sharp, prickly fins and spines, and scaly sides, 

 must be ugly customers in a hand to hand encounter 

 with other finny warriors. To a hungry man they look 

 about as unpromising as hemlock slivers, so thorny and 

 thin are they ; yet there is sweet meat in them, as we 

 found that day. 



. Much refreshed, I set out with the sun low in the 

 west to explore the outlet of the lake and try for trout 

 there, while my companions made further trials in the 

 lake itself. The outlet, as is usual in bodies of water 

 of this kind, was very gentle and private. The stream 

 six or eight feet wide, flowed silently and evenly 

 along for a distance of three or four rods, when it sud- 

 denly, as if conscious of its freedom, took a leap down 

 some rocks. Thence, as far as I followed it, its descent 

 was very rapid, through a continuous succession of 

 brief falls like so many steps down the mountain. Its 

 appearance promised more trout than I found, though 

 I returned to camp with a very respectable string. 

 Toward sunset I went round to explore the inlet, 

 13 



