88 FISH : THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 



accompanied by many of our friends of the 

 night before, we journeyed on until we 

 reached the Forest Station, not so named for 

 forest-trees, — as a place more void of natural 

 beauty or sentiment never existed. 



Here our trouble began. As our expected 

 van for the baggage did not appear, our little 

 stage-driver, who seldom if ever gazed upon 

 so much baggage for one party, was entirely 

 at a loss what to do. Finally, deciding to 

 leave the larger portion, we mounted the 

 two-horse wagon, otherwise called stage, — 

 a party of six. The gentlemen of the party 

 did duty in holding on the trunks, while one 

 lady grasped all the bags in her reach. As 

 we mounted the steep hill the rack gave way. 

 Alas for pickles and trunks ! What would 

 then have become of us, had I not had the 

 never-failing string and wire to mend the 

 poor broken-down wagon. The baggage was 

 soon readjusted, and we all took seats as we 

 could find them, — a merry party, in spite of 



