TROUT-FISHING. 169 
sible, for the sumac and cedar grew to its margin, so that ’ 
no other resource was left but to cut a number of cedar 
logs and form a raft. An hour or more was lost in this 
operation; and when we had launched out, we found that 
nothing but the smallest fry could be taken, although these 
were in such quantities, that frequently we would have three 
or four rises to a cast. For an hour or more we fished in- 
defatigably, still nothing over a quarter of a pound reward- 
ed our labors; and when we landed for our picnic lunch I 
determined to fish the stream with the hope of obtaining 
some heavier specimens. My friend, who felt indisposed, 
either from the effects of the sun, or some State of Maine 
whisky (warranted to kill as far as a six-shooter) which he 
had been imbibing, refused to accompany me; so, with the 
youth who had acted as Palinurus, I left him to ruminate 
over his transgressions or misfortune. 
As I had supposed, large fish were to be found in the 
stream, and my: basket began to groan under its weight, 
when I hooked my flies in the top of a larch that leaned 
over the water close in my-rear. With all my efforts I 
could not get them free, so, sending the lad aloft, I waited 
patiently for him to cast them off. The place where I 
stood was hummocky, such lumps as you come across in 
the bogs of Ireland when snipe-shooting, only a great deal 
larger. With care and precaution the hummocks could be 
traversed without wetting a foot, but hurry would certain- 
ly get you between them, when over the boot-tops would 
be the consequence. I had stood for several minutes for 
the youngster to get the line loose, when, across the stream; 
but a short distance off, I heard an animal grunt; the spot 
whence the sound issued was a large clump of whortleber- 
ries, where some fallen timber lay. Not being quite cer- 
tain that my ears had not deceived me, I waited, when the 
noise was repeated. By this time my line was free, and 
8 
