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She also said there was good trout fishing now in Battle Lake. I told Arthur and he hitched up the mules and we started right at 9 a.m. We drove through the town of Rambler, consisting of prospectors' homes and 3 saloons. Past the Doane or Rambler mine, one of the big ones sold recently for $75,000. Then came to foot of a tall mountain with very steep sides. At the base of it lies Battle Lake covering about 40 acres. We got out the two fishing poles, tackle "flies" etc. The whole outfit cost him $24.00.

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He started and fished around the lake for 3 hours. I did not go clear around. I first got out on a rock by help of dead tree trunk about 20 ft from shore. My line was baited with two flies a "brown hackel" and a white "coachman" the latter looked like a large white miller. I threw the line until I could finally cast about 30 ft from the rock. The water was perfectly clear and finally a stately looking mountain trout came out from under my rock and examined

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both of those hurrying "Bugs" decided they were bogus and never tried to bite either. A number of smaller ones examined but never a one got on so I could reel him in. I then fished from a long [drawing inserted] log, letting "a" represent stone "B" shows long log about 8-10 ft from shore Then I spent an hour on a log as "C" which had grown at water's edge and blowed[sic] down

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And stuck straight into the water more than 100 ft. As I kept my balance and walked out the log sunk when I was about ½ way out so the water ran over it. As it was 8-10 ft deep I thought I wouldn't risk going out further. The Lake is surrounded with massive pines, balsams, spruce and a few quivering aspens (Very handsome.) I dragged my line slow and fast and worked hard every minute but didn't get a fish and neither did Arthur. However we didn't miss

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a game dinner for in going to the Post Office found a man had just brought in a "hunk" of venison and I got 10 lbs for a dollar off the best part of the hip and it was just delicious.
After dinner packed up and saw a terrible mountain storm. It gave us lots of rain until 4 o'clock then we saw it go over the valley. Got a lunch and started with Mr. & Mrs. Crow for Encampment at

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5.45 Met an old junk man on the road stuck on a hill in the forest. We could not get past so Arthur hitched his little mules on and pulled out the load. On the road down we watched the most beautiful sunset effects I ever saw in the clouds surrounding the top of "Gold Hill." First there were great banks of fleecy white clouds then the sun went down and the reflection made them all a brilliant red. Then they were orange, finally all were deep

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Paine" glad to see you back and showed me a room to go to bed [some shorthand]

Wednesday August 28
Took breakfast with Mrs. Crow and bid her goodbye and took stage from Encampment to Saratoga at 8 a.m. Had a fine time coming down. Kuntzman a broker of Encampment and Gilbert cashier Bank at Cold Water, Mich. Keep up a continual joking match. They must have told 50 new ones.

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About the best one was this
Mother-in-Law Story
Doctor is called to bed of very sick old mother in law
Makes complete diagnosis
Dr. Nothing else will do as she has got to go to a warmer climate.
Son in Law I thought so a long time ago. Will be back in a minut4e doctor. (rushes to woodshed comes back with a big axe)
Son in Law You hit her Doc, I ain't got the heart
Another one was
Went out this morning and found some horse shoes-
Did you bring them in lucky boy?
No a horse was standing in them

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Governor visiting penitentiary lady convict happened to step on his foot. "Beg Pardon sir" You needn't . T'wont do you no good. You got to serve your time out.
At 11.00 got to Hot Springs Hotel Saratoga. Went in at once and took one of their famous sulphur spring baths. Water comes out of ground too hot to bear. They fill a great big tub and let them stand until they are right temperature.