TORMENTED BY BLACK FLIES. 351 



preparation of oil of tar. After half an hour's scrambling 

 through brush and climbing over rocks, I at length reach- 

 ed such a lovely pool. The first cast showed it to be alive 

 with fish, and they in the proper way of thinking. Soon 

 the gravel margin had over a dozen beauties glittering in 

 all their glorious coloring ; but the sun was near the hori- 

 zon, and my attendant warned me that time was up. On 

 joining my friends, long and vociferous were their peals of 

 laughter whenever they looked at me. What the deuce 

 was up ? . On arrival at the shanty all was explained. The 

 black flies had attacked me when so immersed in my sport, 

 that they had been unnoticed or brushed off, making my 

 countenance the most extraordinary-looking mess of blood 

 and bruised flies imaginable ; but if I did not then feel the 

 pain, you may bet I did that night when warm in bed. 



Knowing that such torments exist, why did the writer 

 go there ? is naturally asked, and as simply answered, for 

 before he started he was assured that not even a mosquito 

 was to be found in Maine. Afterward it was discovered 

 that the visit of his informant had been paid to this ulti- 

 ma thule late in autumn. A dozen times conclusions were 

 come to of sloping (not for Texas) in the morning; but 

 the attractions were so great that even the entire summer, 

 even on to the end of October, was got through, the last 

 two or three months so delightfully that the self-sacrifice 

 endured in June and July was more than compensated for ; 

 and never can be forgotten the beautiful weather, glorious 

 sport, and free, independent life enjoyed. The State of 

 Maine being of considerably larger proportions than En- 

 gland and Scotland together, it is desirable that the partic- 

 ular locality should be mentioned. Seventy miles from the 

 thriving sea-port of Portland, along the Grand Trunk line 

 of railroad, will be found on the map the picturesque, clean, 

 flourishing village of Bethel ; twenty-seven miles north from 



