220 Fisninc iv AMERICAN WATERS. 
we halted for the night, saw the canoes unladen and hauled 
on shore, a fire quickly made to keep off the flies and enable 
us to extemporize a supper with scarcely any vessel to cook 
in or eat out of, pitch our tent, ete. While these duties were 
going forward, a large salmon, of over 20 Ibs. weight, leaped 
several feet above the pool in front of our tent, and not thir- 
ty feet from shore. As quick as thought was one of our 
guides seen skulking along the shrubby margin of the river, 
waiting to see the seal which was the cause of the leap of 
the salmon. Presently the seal made its appearance in the 
middle of the river, and in the strength of the rapid, swim- 
ming with its head above water, and looking like a young 
negro bathing. It turned its head and looked all around, ap- 
parently in surprise, as if scenting danger, while approaching 
the shore in response to the plaintive call of the man with 
the rifle; but the gunner was too slow on the trigger, and 
the seal went on its way rejoicing. 
Boughs of fir, for bedding, were cut by the guides and laid 
in our tent while we were taking supper. Our first night of 
tenting in the wilderness was signalized by pleasant dreams, 
and we arose early, made our toilets, and watched the salmon 
disport in the rapids while breakfast was being prepared, 
and canoes launched and reladen. 
After breakfast we started for our camping-ground, ten 
miles farther up the river. The whole of this distance may 
be properly considered a rapid, and one third the way a very 
dangerous one. Salmon were abundant. While many were 
leaping above the current in the middle of the river, scores 
were seen darting from near the shores where our guides 
were tugging along. 
All animate nature seemed more than usually active that 
morning. The seals were out in force and galloping up the 
rapids. Salmon were leaping and splashing, and even the 
silver trout were breaking, as if to demonstrate that they too, 
though less important, were gay and happy. 
While admiring the mountains of rock, sparsely covered 
