THE CHASE. 363 



nor were its contents arranged in a very orderly manner — this 

 latter fact to be accounted for, perhaps by the absence of the 

 lady. Portions of moose were strewn everywhere ; potatoes were 

 heaped in various corners, and nothing seemed to have any cer- 

 tain place allotted to it ; smoke-dried eels were suspended from 

 the rafters in company with strings of moose-fat and dried cakes 

 of concrete blueberries and apples. Joe had, however, some idea 

 of the ornamental, for parts of the 'Illustrated News' and 

 ' Punch ' divided the walls with a number of gaudy pictures of 

 saints and martyrs. 



" The repast being over, the Indians strided out, replete, with 

 lighted pipes, and paddles in hand, to the beach. Some fresh 

 moose meat was placed in the canoe, with a basket of Joe's 

 ' taters,' which Jim said, ' 't was hardly any use boiling ; they 

 were so good, they fell to pieces.' A little waterproof canvas 

 camp was spread over the rolls of blankets, guns, camp-kettles, 

 and bags containing the grub, which was strewed at the bottom ; 

 and, having seated myself beside them, the Indians stepped 

 lightly into the canoe and pushed it off, when, propelled by the 

 long sweeping strokes of their paddles, we glided rapidly up the 

 lake. 



" Indian lake is a beautiful sheet of water, nearly ten miles in 

 length, and, proportionately, very narrow — perhaps half a mile 

 in its general breadth. Rolling hills, steep and covered with 

 heavy fir and hemlock wood, bound its western shore ; those on 

 the opposite side showing a dreary, burnt country. The' maple 

 bushes skirting the water were tinged with their brightest au- 

 tumnal glow ; and in the calm water in coves and nooks on the 

 windward side of the lake, the reflections were very beautiful. I 

 longed for a cessation of the rain, and a gleam of sunshine across 

 the hill-tops, if only to enjoy the scenery as we passed. And cer- 

 tainly a seat in a canoe is a very pleasant position from which to 

 observe the beauties of lake and river scenery, the spectator being 

 comfortably seated on a blanket, or bunch of elastic boughs in the 

 bottom of the canoe, — legs stretched out in front, back well sup- 

 ported by rolls of blankets, and elbows resting on the gunwale 

 on either side. 



" 'Ah ! here is the half-way rock, what the old Indians call the 

 Grandmother,' said Joe, steering the canoe so as to pass close 

 alongside a line of rocks which stood out in fantastic outlines from 

 the water close to the western shore of the lake. ' Here is the 



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