TROUT-FISHING. 169 



sible, for the sumac and cedar grew to its margin, so that 

 no other resource was left but to cut a number of cedar 

 logs and form a raft. An hour or more was lost in this 

 operation ; and when we had launched out, we found that 

 nothing'but the smallest fry could be taken, although these 

 were in such quantities, that frequently we would have three 

 or four rises to a cast. For an hour or more we fished iu- 

 defatigably, still nothing over a quarter of a pound reward- 

 ed our labors ; and when we landed for our picnic lunch I 

 determined to fish the stream with the hope of obtaining 

 some heavier specimens. My friend, who felt indisposed, 

 either from the effects of the sun, or some State of Maine 

 whisky (warranted to kill as far as a six-shooter) which he 

 had been imbibing, refused to accompany me ; so, with the 

 youth who had acted as Palinurus, I left him to ruminate 

 over his transgressions or misfortune. 



As I had supposed, large fish were to be found in the 

 stream, and my basket began to groan under its weight, 

 when I hooked my flies in the top of a larch that leaned 

 over the water close in my rear. With all my efforts I 

 could not get them free, so sending the lad aloft, I waited 

 patiently for him to cast them off. The place where I 

 stood was hummocky, such lumps as you come across in 

 the bogs of Ireland when snipe-shooting, only a great deal 

 larger. With, care and precaution the hummocks could be 

 traversed without wetting a foot, but hurry would certain- 

 ly get you between them, when over the boot-tops would 

 be the consequence. I had stood for several minutes for 

 the youngster to get the line loose, when, across the stream, 

 but a short distance off, I heard an animal grunt ; the spot 

 whence the sound issued was a large clump of whortleber- 

 ries, where some fallen timber lay. Not being quite cer- 

 tain that my ears had not deceived me, I waited, when the 

 noise was repeated. By this time my line was free, and 



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