20 With Rod and Gun in New England 



"Yes," added Hiram, "and last evening we saw one salmon in the 

 pool below the outlet; 'twas not a large fish, but there'll be bigger soon." 



" They '11 be coming up before long," said William, " they 're waiting 

 in the lower pools for rain ; sure, 't is a dry season we 've had, intirely." 



" Where have you pitched the tents " ? I inquired. 



" At the old spot, surely," replied Hiram, "we knew that it would 

 seem like home to ye, the first night." 



" That 's good," exclaimed the Doctor, " and now let 's lose no time in 

 getting into camp." 



The canoes were quickly loaded and, embarking, we soon were on 

 our way down the lake to the outlet at which our first camp had for several 

 seasons been made. 



In the first canoe were the Judge and the brothers McDavie, and in 

 the other the Doctor, Francois and I were placed, the party being divided 

 as evenly as possible according to weight, the Judge and I being of pretty 

 robust proportions, while the Doctor was the lightest of the party. 



I plied the paddle in the bow of the canoe and Francois in the stern, 

 and we kept along with the others fairly well. 



The two short miles to our camp were quickly traversed and the white 

 walls of our tents stood before us. 



" By Jove " ! exclaimed the Judge as he stepped ashore, " it seems 

 incredible that a year has passed since we landed at this spot ; how rapidly 

 the time flies to us old fellows." 



" Yes, Judge," added the Doctor, " and it flies more and more rapidly 

 as the years roll on ; not many more such outings as this will be vouchsafed 

 us." 



" Well, we '11 take all we can get," said I, joining the others at the 

 main tent, " and we '11 get the most out of the present one, possible." 



" Right," responded the Judge, " and now for a fish." 



Below the great ledge which guarded both sides of the outlet was a 

 descent in the river which made a quick fall of about eight or ten feet in 

 height, and below this was a broad, deep pool, three good casts in width 

 and at least fifteen rods in length. In this pool large numbers of sea trout 

 were often found, particularly if the river was low, they being then unable 

 to surmount the falls and reach the lake above ; the shore on both sides of 

 the pool was covered with pebbles and small bowlders, and as there was 

 an abundance of room for casting it was an ideal spot for the angler. 



We soon had our rods set up, and clambering down the ledge to the 

 pool, the Doctor and I, followed by Francois, took one side, while the 

 Judge, who with Hiram had crossed the outlet in the canoe, took the other 

 shore. William, who remained at the camp, started a fire and began 

 preparations for supper. 



