noon
I am bound to carry home something that will pass for fresh meat , if it is nothing but a coon . I shall haul up my canoe somewhere about here ; follow up the lake-shore a mile or so , with the idea of catching a deer in the edge of the water , come there to keep off the flies ; then , perhaps , cross over to the Magalloway , down that , and over to this place ; when , by way of topping off , I will show you , by that time , if you are about here so long , how trout are taken . '' So saying , the hunter dipped his springy oar into the water , and , with a few vigorous strokes , sent his canoe to the shore , and , having moored it to a root , he glided into the thickets , and disappeared with a tread so noiseless as to leave Claud , for many minutes , wholly in doubt whether the man was standing still in the bushes or proceeding on his excursion . It was now noon , and Claud , seeing no prospect of any immediate success in his piscatory employment , which had been made to appear to him , by the remarks of the hunter , more discouraging than ever , drew up his anchor , and rowed to a point of the shore which was embowered by a group of magnificent pines . Here , finding a cool spring , as well as a refreshing shade , he drew out his lunch , and very leisurely proceeded to discuss it , with the ice-cold water of the spring by which he had seated himself for the purpose . His fare was coarse ; but it was partaken with a relish of which those who have never experienced the effects of the air and exercise , incident to a life in the woods , can have no just conception ; and to which the palled appetite of the `` vain lords of luxury and ease , Whom slumber soothes not , pleasure can not please , '' is poor in comparison , though all the king 's banquets and metropolitan feasts in the world should vie together to make good the substitute . Claud 's life had thus far been , in the main , a quiet and commonplace one ; nothing having occurred to him to arouse those strong and over-mastering passions to which it is the lot of most of us , at some period of our lives , to become subjected .