152 GUN, ROD, AND SADDLE. 



their retreats, and dropping off in the water furnished 

 these fish with a favorite food. 



Summer drifted past, and with it disappeared the 

 incessant persecuting flies. Autumn, with all that 

 brilliant coloring so remarkable in America, made 

 its appearance, and the oppressive heat gave way 

 to the most desirable temperature. An English au- 

 tumn to me is always sad, an American autumn is 

 quite the reverse ; the hues and colors of the for- 

 mer are somber, in those of the latter brilliancy 

 unsurpassable predominates. An 'American autumn 

 once seen makes as lasting an impression on the 

 memory of matureage, as the gorgeous fairy scene 

 of the pantomime when first beheld upon that 

 of youth. For some time none of the bright-hued 

 fish had been taken, and I much feared that my 

 acquaintance with them for that year had ter- 

 minated; but not so, a few sharp nights of frost 

 took place, and going one morning to obtain suf- 

 ficient fish for breakfast, in the run that formed the 

 exit of the river from the lake, I with pleasure, in 

 succession, captured several of the beauties. From 

 that day forward they became more numerous, and 

 the last morning's fishing which I here enjoyed, with 

 the snow flying so thick that I could scarcely see my 



