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LAKE DWELLERS. 179 



" September 5. 

 " Glode and I tried creeping moose, back in the woods, 

 this morning, but without success. No wind and an 

 execrable country ; all windfalls and tliiftk woods, or else 

 burnt barrens. Follow fresh tracks of an enormous bull, 

 but are obliged to leave them for want of a breeze to 

 cloak our somewhat noisy advance amongst the tall 

 huckleberry bushes. Indians are particularly averse to 

 starting game when there is no chance of killing. It 

 scares the country unnecessarily. Disturb a bear revel- 

 ling amongst the berries, and hear him rush off in a 

 thick swamp. Lots of bear signs everywhere in these 

 woods. In the evening proceed up the lake with one of 

 the canoes. The water calm, and a most lovely sunset. 

 Passing a dark grove of hemlocks, we hear two young 

 bears calling to one another with a sort of plaintive moan. 

 The old ones seldom cry out, being too knowing and 

 ever on the watch. At the head of a grassy cove stood 

 a large beaver-house ; and, as it was now the time of day 

 for the animals to swim round and feed amongst the 

 yellow water-lilies, we concealed ourselves and canoe 

 amongst the tall grass for the purpose of watching. 

 But for the mosquitoes, which attacked us fiercely, 

 it was a most enjoyable evening. The gorgeous sunset 

 reflected in the lake vied with the shadows of the crim- 

 son maples ; and every bank of woods opposed to the 

 sun was suffused with a rich orange hue. The still air 

 bore to our ears the sound of a fall into the lake, some 

 three miles away, as if it were close by, and tlu* cry of 

 the loon resounded in every direction. Wood-ducks and 

 black ducks flew past in abundance, and within easy 

 range of our hidden guns ; and long diverging trails in the 



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