28q the best of the FUN 



men, if average fishermen and energetic at their work, will 

 generally catch a hundred fish in the day, total weight 

 between sixty and seventy pounds. These fish are cleaned 

 and laid out by night to freeze. They are then packed in 

 grass against the heat of the sun. On the third or fourth 

 day the jacks are loaded up, and one of the partners takes 

 them into the nearest town, while the other continues his 

 fishing. " How do they find a market if they can't expose 

 them for sale ? " I asked Jim in my innocence. " Oh, that 

 ain't no trouble ! " replied he. " Them high-toned hotels 

 must have 'em, and they'll take all you've got at thirty-five 

 cents a pound." I leave you to calculate the proceeds ; 

 but, as Jim added, " two men can make pretty fair wages 

 at that." 



Regaining Hunters' Lake and its well-equipped cabins 

 was a return to luxury midway between positive civilisation 

 and a picnic in the wilds. Pcrrier Joiiet from an icy stream, 

 trout from an afternoon's angling in the lake, venison from 

 recent wanderings, a cook with a kitchen range, clean 

 linen, and one of " the boys " volunteering service as 

 waiter. Illustration: the second bottle just opened to the 

 health of our absent host. " Waiter " {loquitur) in a quiet 

 undertone : " Do either of you gentlemen object to shoot- 

 ing ? " No response ; but each gentleman wonders what 

 next, and begins to wish he hadn't left his own six-shooter 

 outside. Bang! 5a;/^/ / between our very chairs. "Guess 



I've done you this time, you d d son of a gun ! " Red 



blood trickled, then poured on to the snowy tablecloth. 

 E'en the Major's plate and the Captain's pate were be- 

 dewed with the horrid warm liquid. Don't shudder 

 (though we did). 'Twas only a rat in the canvas roofing 

 that Jake had dislodged for practice. Nerves are of no 

 account out West. 



CHAPTER XLl 



THE QUORN SEASON (1892-93) 



The Quorn, after an excellent month to begin with, 

 had a comparative lull in mid-winter ; but came to the 



