Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-13

out of it and struggling in the water of
the lake. Unnoticed by either OF rs in
the excitement of the moment, our boat
had swung around into the trough of the
sea, and q huge wave had dashed in,
completely filling it and tipping it so
nearly over that as tho water came in we
went out. Confident in my own SWIM
ming powers. called TO my guide, as
soon as I came to the surface and grasped
hold of the boat, that could taxa care
of myself, and sot to be alarmed on my
account. But desperate series OF
found ierings on his part indicated to me
what bad never before suspected, that,
notwithstanding the fact that he had been
a guide upon these waters for thirty
years, he could not sv:m n stroke. His
frantic efforts to secure his own safety
quickly tipped the boat bottom-side up,
and again sent US both under. When |
came u tho surface he was seated astride
of the bow in comparative safety while
the second submersion had so water
logged my heavy winter clothing that
found it impossible to do more than hang
on TO whatever part of the slippery bot
tom of the boat could best clutch. Then
it began to look as if our strait was des-
perate. The anchor-rope held our boat
With the same lirmness upon which we
had before congratulated ourselves, and
fear that It would never have. occurred
10 either of US 10 cut 1t and let the boat
dritt ashore. Fortunately. however. an
other boat happened just at this crisis TO
be starting out upon the lake. BY his
vigorous yells my guide attracted the at
tcnlion of those in the other boat, and in
few moments it was alongside. My
guide easily stepped from his place OF
refuge into the rescuing boat, nearly up.
setting that in his precipi,ancy, and then
il came TO my relief. But could neither
lift myself over its side nor could those
who were in it pull me in without immi-
nent risk OF capsizing. There was no
other way but to tow me ashore inglori
ousy. AS soon as my feet struck bottom.
| waded to the beach, and then for the
first time realized how completely my
strength was exhausted, and for how
short time. in all probability, | could
have sustained myself in the perilous
position from which had so happily es-
capped. A blazing campfire and a dry
suit OF clothes quickly restored my
equanimity. which was. however, COM
pletely destroyed again by the reflection,
which in gu instant burst upon me, that
my three rods. including a new split
bamboo, together with q carefully pre-
pared box of fishing tackle. which con-
tanned my lly-books. were at the bottom
Of the lake and in water at least twelve
feet deep. At first it seemed as il my
sport Tor that trip ut least had been COM
pletely and disastrously terminated. One
of our guides, who was an expert swim
mer, comlor,od me by the assurance that
be could easily recover the more impor
tan! articles by diving for them, and Tor
time it appeared rs il this would be the
only chance until il occurred to US that
- l. M md imam
ious ot our party had day or two before
constructed square box with pane OF
glass in the end, with which. alter the
manner OF the sponge and pearl divers,
he had been studying the bottom oi the
lake to discover, il possible, the localities
which the trout were the most likely to
frequent. Taking this out with US the
next day. we found that the cOntrvance
worked TO a charm. Thrusting below
the ripple the end OF the box which con-
tanned the glass and excluding the light
as far as possible from the other end,
every object on the bottom of the lake,
at depth of even fifteen or twenty feet,
could be clearly diseerned. A little pa
tient labor with this and large landing
net with handle Of sufficient length was
finally rewarded with the recovery of
every article OF any value. The fly
books, however. were both destroyed
aud part OF their contents were seriously
damaged; still these were triaing offsets
to my own fortunate escape and that Of
my guide.
An incident in strong contrast with this
unfortunate beginning terminated this
same eventful trip. Mr.. Page, although
the most expert and enthusiastic fisher
man OF our number, had devoted himself
so assiduously to caring for the comfort
OF his guests, that his own chances at
catching the big trout had been seriously
| lessened. 1t was our last afternoon to-
gether, and as the hours waned towards
sunset. the surface of the lake became as
smooth and as brilliant as FURNISHED steel.
Our three boats were anchored within q
short distance of each other, and we were
condoling with our friend on his lack of
luck, when suddenly few rods away
there was quick swirl and splash which
told of the presence OF big fish. That's
my tfout~ exclaimed MIR. Page, as he
ordered his guide to haul anchor and