WHERE THE SrORTSMAN LOVES TO LINGER. 87 



CHAPTER VII. 



SOURDNAHUNK DEAD WATER TO CIIESUNCOOK. 



Our next camping place was on Sourdnaliunk dead 

 water, at the foot of the Horserace, and was the ideal 

 camping" ground of the entire trip. Here the river broad- 

 ens into a miniature hike, calm and placid, the banks easy 

 of access and timbered, not with the Maine jungle, but 

 siinilar to tlie woods of the Central States, into which one 

 can see long distanc(^s. Spring water and birch abound, 

 the scenery is j)ici:uresque be^'ond descri])tion, deer and 

 moose are plentiful, and the watei's of the nearln^ brooks 

 are alive with delicious trout. There the weary toiler 

 from the hot city will find his haven of rest. He will 

 indeed believe that ''(Jod made tlie country and man made 

 the town." 



The next two miles before us was the dreaded Horse- 

 race, a second Chase's Carry, and tlie toughest proposition 

 for the canoeist along the whole West Branch trip. It is 

 difficult and dangerous to go down, but going down is not 

 a bagatelle to going u]). The way the waters run no doubt 

 gave it its naiiu\ Along the river banks of [Maine there are 

 paths nmde by lund)ermen and game on which one can 

 easily walk. The day we went up the Horserace we 

 wei'c to meet our lirst misfortune of any consequence, los- 

 ing practically all our provisions. The Hoi'serace going 



