IN THE CATSKILLS 



long, that rests on the pebbles near shore and darts 

 quickly, when disturbed, from point to point. " Put 

 that on your hook," said he, " and if there is a big 

 fish in the creek, he is bound to have it." But the 

 darts were not easily found ; the big fish, I con- 

 cluded, had cleaned them all out; and, then, it was 

 easy enough to supply our wants with a fin. 



Declining the hospitable offers of the settlers, we 

 spread our blankets that night in a dilapidated shin- 

 gle-shop on the banks of the Biscuit Brook, first 

 flooring the damp ground with the new shingle that 

 lay piled in one corner. The place had a great- 

 throated chimney with a tremendous expanse of fire- 

 place within, that cried "More!" at every morsel 

 of wood we gave it. 



But I must hasten over this part of the ground, 

 nor let the delicious flavor of the milk we had that 

 morning for breakfast, and that was so delectable 

 after four days of fish, linger on my tongue; nor yet 

 tarry to set down the talk of that honest, weather- 

 worn passer-by who paused before our door, and 

 every moment on the point of resuming his way, 

 yet stood for an hour and recited his adventures 

 hunting deer and bears on these mountains. Hav- 

 ing replenished our stock of bread and salt pork at 

 the house of one of the settlers, midday found us at 

 Reed's shanty, one of those temporary structures 

 erected by the bark jobber to lodge and board his 

 " hands " near their work. Jim not being at home, 

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