DIES PISCATORI<K. 525 



fished with them in the Diamond River. I endeavored to manoeuvre so as 

 not to go over boot-top, but pretty soon I tumbled in, and when I got up 

 my boots were full of water, and weighed about two tons apiece ; so I 

 waded ashore for the purpose of eliminating the element. I laid down on 

 my back, and raised my heels up in the air, and the ultimate consequences 

 were, that the whole quantity of fluid found its way out at the back of my 

 neck, just below the left ear. During our whole trip the great occasion 

 of the day was the getting my boots off. Many of you know what wet 

 boots are ; I had them in perfection. Our guide was a first-rate boot-jack, 

 otherwise I should be wearing the articles at the present day. I lay down 



on the floor, N would take hold of my shoulders, the guide and H 



hold of my boots, and we would work, and twist, and accomplish the feat, 

 or rather feet, in about an half-hour. Item, when fishing for Trout, wear 

 shoes. 



Boots off, and otherwise happy, we lay in the tent, smoked, and em- 

 ployed ourselves in the charms of conversation. Our guide had gone off 

 into the woods some distance, and soon we heard a crackling and snapping 

 as though the world was about to conflagrate. We rushed out of the tent," 

 and saw, off in the forest, a large tree all on fire from turret to foundation- 

 stone. It flashed, and blazed, and roared, and I thought the whole wil- 

 derness was going, so I seized a few articles of value, and was about taking 



to the water for safety, but was restrained by N , who said it was some 



of the guide's work, which it proved to be. Birch trees are covered with 

 a light bark, which every year peels off to about the thickness of a sheet 

 of paper ; this dies, and drying, becomes like tinder, and is used as such ; 

 and if you touch a match to the root of a tree, the blaze flashes up in a 

 moment over every limb, and makes as fine a specimen of indigenous fire- 

 work as may be desired. The night was very dark, and there the tree 

 stood, every limb and branch, all in a blaze, and lighting up the forest 

 like day. The wild birds started from their roosts, flying helter-skelter ; 

 deer and other vermin were scampering in promiscuous confusion, and 

 altogether it was pleasant. Soon another tree started, and then another, 

 and soon half a dozen, in all directions ; and to us, who were novices, the 

 spectacle was beautiful. Our guide soon came back — he had been prowl- 

 ing round in his stocking feet — and we all went to bed. 



The next morning we all went to fishing, and fished to our hearts' con- 

 tent; in fact we became perfectly satiated and disgusted. They bit so 

 fast, and we caught so many, that we lost all relish for it. We filled our 

 boat almost full. Anything less than a half pound in weight we threw 



