158 



LAKE PARMACHINI. 



as spawning beds for trout or char. The labour was 

 but insignificant to procure enough breeding fish for 

 all my wants, the principal of which was to obtain a 

 shipment of ova to stock our home waters, but pack- 

 ing for safe transportation was more laborious work. 

 However, when my task was over I could not tear 

 myself away from this lovely spot, and my rough but 

 ever courteous attendant seemed to be equally in- 

 disposed to leave such attractions for the haunts of 

 man. To prevent existence becoming monotonous 

 I fished each day till I had caught enough for the 

 coming evening and morning meal, then took my 

 gun, and, accompanied by the guide's nondescript 

 little cur, went in search of wood grouse, or beat the 

 upper end of a marshy bay for sheldrake, mallard, 

 or snipe. Possibly, while thus killing time, one of 

 those sluggish, harmless animals, a Canadian porcu- 

 pine, would be tree'd, but the unfortunate's flesh being 

 a dainty fit for any epicure, its shelter was felled to 

 bring the poor thing to bag. 



This unmonotonous life was broken one night, 

 and in a most disagreeable manner. I had just turned 

 in, and my companion was performing the last office of 

 the night by replenishing the camp fire, when the 

 echoes and the screech owls were simultaneously 

 aroused by a shout from the guide, of " Up with you, 

 and get out of the camp, there's a blarmed skunk 

 making tracks for your bunk," and I did " foot it,'' as 

 quick as my feet would carry me, although my 

 costume was of the most neglig^ kind, for I had vivid 



remembrances of my old friend, Captain M , 



having to bury his clothes for six weeks before they 

 became rid of the repulsive, sickening stench thp.t a 

 salute from the pretty little anima^ had given them ; 

 also of a farmer that I knew at AUcot, N.Y. State, 

 who received some of this animal's secretion in his 

 eyes when looking for eggs in his barn yard, the 

 result being that he was blind for a time. So can 



