```Urged by a noiseless paddle at the `````stern, ```Whipping the crystal mirror of the `````fern ```In fairy bays where water-lilies `````float; ```To hear your reel’s whirr echoed `````from the throat ````Of a wild mocking bird... ````This is to live the old days o’er ````When nymph and dryad haunted `````stream and glade, ```To dream sweet happy dreams of `````having strayed ```To Arcady with all its golden lore._ `````--Charles Henry Luders, `````_Haunts of the Halcyon_. [Illustration: 0183] XIII. IN A HOUSE-BOAT ON THE KOOTENAY [Illustration: 9183] LORIOUS Kootenay!” That’s what the folders call it, and if any more intense adjective could be found that too would be tacked on. That Canadian Northwest strains the English language tremendously. “Magnificent,” “splendid,” “grand,” “glorious,” are worn to frazzles by constant use, and were it possible to roll them all into one big word, it would still be utterly inadequate to express the native’s admiration for his country. The chances are that the reader does not even know where the Kootenay is, and, while we have a distinct aversion to playing the part of a guide-book, we will go so far as to advise consultation of a good map of British Columbia. Down in the southeastern corner you will find Kootenay Lake and River, but the map does not reveal the rugged mountains, the wine-like air, the sparkling water, the sunshine, the peace, the restfulness, the TROUT that make the Kootenay one of God’s best gifts to man. The confession may as well be made first as last that we went to the Kootenay country for the express purpose of fishing. This is no disparagement to the people or to the scenery, for each stands at the head of its class. But some philosopher has said (or if he has not he ought to have done so): “Count that vacation wasted in which you do no fishing.” Wasting a vacation is sinful; therefore we fish. Here in the Kootenay are trout worthy of one’s skill; heroes of many battles; cunning and adroit veterans who know all the tricks at the command of the enemy.