PREFACE. vii 



does not challenge criticism. It makes no special preten- 

 sions to literary merit. People who love nature, who have 

 a taste for the old woods, the lakes, and streams, and the 

 forest sports, may read, and possibly be amused by it. 

 They will doubtless find that it contains many faults, if 

 they choose to look for them. 



There was, and doubtless still is, plenty of fish, plenty of 

 deer, plenty of sport in that wild region, and, I venture to 

 say, that there is no locality in the United States, at all to 

 be compared with it in natural beauty of scenery. I was 

 over most of the ground again last . fall. The places I 

 visited five years ago, are vastly easier of access now than 

 they were then. The tourist can now go from Port Kent, 

 on Lake Champlain, to the foot of the I^>wer Saranac, in a 

 day. He will travel the whole distance, save about twelve 

 miles, on a plank road, and the balance on a tolerably 

 smooth common road. All making the most delightful 

 day's journey imaginable. 



On the banks of the Lower Saranac, literally at the end 

 of the road, he will find " Martin's House," a new and 

 comfortable country hotel, kept by pleasant, obliging peo- 

 ple. Here he will hire a boatman, with his boat and tent, 

 cooking utensils, and a store of provisions, and go a hun- 

 dred miles, if he chooses, " outside of a fence," over the 

 most beautiful lakes, and along the most delightful rivers 



