374 



PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



gigantic animated letter T, I crossed the portage with a 

 formidable array of lines and artificial baits, full of most 

 mischievous intent toward the finny tribe. This day the 

 surface was broken by that desirable ripple, whether it be 

 for trolling or fly-fishing, and dark clouds occasionally 

 darkened with their shadow the face of the water. With 

 exhilarating freedom, deep I dipped my paddle, pushing 

 for the rocky end, waiting till I had crossed the centre of 

 the lake before I commenced to fish ; for, as a rule, unless 

 there should happen to be a reef, seldom any fish will be 

 taken far from the margin. When alone in a canoe one 

 line will be found as much as can be conveniently attended 

 to, for the navigation of your craft requires both hands. 

 Getting under good headway, I soon had twenty-five to 

 thirty yards of line astern, with a few inches of red cloth 

 for lure, which proved so attractive that I almost immedi- 

 ately had a break, and in a moment or two afterward a fish 

 hooked. For two or three hours such was the sport, which 

 continued with never over a few minutes' cessation. 



As I pushed slowly along the shore I came to a river 

 previously unknown to me, and which I have since learned 

 is the only outlet from this lake. The edge of this stream 

 was fringed with a dense net-work of weeds, and the chan- 

 nel had scarcely a perceptible current. On breaking full 

 in view, several dozens of wild duck rose, conspicuous 

 among whom were many of the beautiful wood -duck, a 

 gem among his brilliant-plumed race. The sedgy nature 

 of the shore here predicted a more than ordinary favored 

 retreat, so, replacing the red cloth by a large Buell's spoon, 

 with some scarlet ibis's feathers tied along the shanks of 

 the hooks, I tried my fortune, and such was my success 

 that, before I ceased, the bottom of my canoe had a goodly 

 show of noble bass and pike so many, that I was satisfied 

 to select three or four for present use and hide the others, 



