THE OLD ADIRONDACKS 



lawn in front, and blankets are spread on the floor of 

 the immense guide-house, itself capable of lodging 

 some sixty or more guides. And each guide has his 

 boat. Beautiful crafts they are, weighing from sixty 

 to eighty pounds, and drawing but three inches of 

 water. Most of them carry two persons, some of them 

 three. A guide will sling one of them upon his back 

 and carry it mile after mile as easily as a tortoise car- 

 ries his shell. When the carries are long, wagons and 

 sleds are in readiness to haul them from landing to 

 landing; but few are the guides that will refuse to 

 back them over for the price of the carriage. 



Great is the stir at these caravansaries on the long 

 summer evenings — ribbons fluttering on the piazzas ; 

 silks rustling in dress promenade; ladies in short 

 mountain-suits, fresh from an afternoon picnic ; embryo 

 sportsmen in velveteen and corduroys of approved 

 cut, descanting learnedly of backwoods experience ; 

 excursion - parties returning, laden with trophies of 

 trout and pond-lilies; stages arriving top-heavy with 

 trunks, rifle-cases, and hampers ; guides intermingling, 

 proffering services, or arranging trips for the morrow; 

 pistols shooting at random ; dogs on the qui vive ; in- 

 valids, bundled in blankets, propped up in chairs; old 

 gents distracted, vainly perusing their papers; fond 

 lovers strolling; dowagers scheming; mosquitoes de- 

 vouring; the supper-bell ringing, and general commo- 

 tion confusing mine host. Anon some millionnaire 

 Nimrod or piscator of marked renown drags in from a 



