234 THE HALCYON IN CANADA. 



these waters, irrespective of size, the red-fleshed 

 and the white-fleshed, and that the former were 

 best. 



This success gave an impetus to our sport that 

 carried us through the rest of the week finely. We 

 had demonstrated that there were big trout here and 

 that they would rise to a fly. Henceforth big fish 

 were looked to as a possible result of every excur- 

 sion. To me, especially, the desire to at least match 

 my companion, who had been my pupil in the art, 

 was keen and constant. We built a raft of logs and 

 upon it I floated out upon the lake, whipping its 

 waters right and left, morning, noon, and night. 

 Many fine trout came to my hand and were released 

 because they did not fill the bill. 



The lake became my favorite resort, while my 

 companion preferred rather the shore or the long 

 still pool above, where there was a rude make-shift 

 of a boat, made of common box-boards. 



Upon the lake you had the wildness and solitude 

 at arm's length, and could better take their look and 

 measure. You became something apart from them ; 

 you emerged and had a vantage ground like that of 

 a mountain peak, and could contemplate them at 

 your ease. Seated upon my raft and slowly carried 

 by the current or drifted by the breeze, I had many 

 * long, silent look into the face of the wilderness, 

 and found the communion good. I was alone with 

 the spirit of the forest-bound lakes and felt its pres- 

 ence and magnetism. I played hide-and-seek with 



