MEACHAM'S LAKE. 55 



ing of this sheet of water. We hewed a smooth place 

 on the side of an ancient birch, and with a knife 

 carved thereon in large letters, " Fisher's Lake." 

 Whoever shall hereafter visit it, let him respect the 

 name we gave it and speak of it accordingly. 



We arrived at the margin of Meacham's Lake, an 

 hour before sunset, wayworn and weary enough. We 

 found here a shantee, built of poles, and more com- 

 modious than the temporary ones we had erected. 

 The roof was covered with bark peeled from the 

 trees the previous year, but the sun had so dried and 

 warped it, that it would afford small shelter from the 

 rain, if a storm should overtake us. From present 

 appearances, such an event was not unlikely to occur 

 during the night. The day had been exceedingly 

 sultry, and a bank of dense dark clouds rested on the 

 western horizon, behind which the sun was fast sink- 

 ing. My guide soon peeled from the trees around us, 

 bark enough to repair the roof, and procured green 

 boughs for our bed. I found no difficulty in procur- 

 ing fish. I also shot a brace of partridges, and a small 

 gray good rabbit ; so that we were supplied with fish, 

 flesh, and fowl, of the freshest and most delicate kind. 



About ten o'clock, the bank of clouds from the 



