226 GUX, ROD, AND SADDLE. 



find it out. An old lumberman, long superannuated, 

 gave us our instructions thus : " First go through the 

 woods two miles north, then incline a little to the 

 westward, and after about half-an-hour's walking 

 through a swamp you will strike a small brook, which 

 follow up and you will certain sure make the pond."* 

 To those who have not wandered through an Ameri- 

 can forest, such instructions will be perceived to be 

 far from lucid; to the thorough woodsman, however, 

 it would be sufficient. Before we left the township 

 road where we were to branch off, there stood % 

 shanty, at which we halted to put up the horse and 

 buggy in which we had thus far traveled. From 

 the head of the establishment we made inquiries, 

 who, calling to his son, who was within, gave the fol- 

 lowing directions — " Bub,f take the gents and show 

 them the pond." Now " Bub" was a most commu- 

 nicative youngster about fourteen years of age, and 

 scenting a dollar in the distance, hopefully undertook 

 the job. A cow-path we, the trio, followed for more 

 than a mile, then we continued on what is familiarly 

 designated a blaze road — id est, a path marked out 



* Small lakes in Maine are always called ponds. 

 f A Yankee father's familiar way of addressing liis son; 

 daughters after the same manner are called '' siss." 



