A DAT WITH MASCALONGE 



" Bon jour, bon jour, mon cher ami ; we mek 

 start rat off for quick." 



Dipping his fingers into the benitier, he devoutly 

 made the sign of the cross, and with a wish for 

 our success and safe return from his wife, expressed 

 in French, we took our departure for the flat 

 water of the river. 



On our way to the landing near the deep pool, 

 where the rapids end, we passed through nooks 

 and vistas in glade and mead that gladdened the 

 eye, — where nature in her seeming indifference 

 and frowzy neglect furnishes many artistic 

 sights which are really charming. The timid 

 brown thrush is startled by our intrusion and 

 flits into the denser growth beyond, and the 

 bobolink sings his joyous, rollicking notes in the 

 meadow. 



All this seems lost upon the matter-of-fact Bris- 

 sette, the patient basket-maker and successful fish- 

 man, because it is a part of his every-day life, 

 perhaps. 



But here we are at the landing. The different 

 members of the trolling rod of split bamboo are 

 assembled, the multiplying reel is well secured in 

 its place, the thread-like silk enamelled water- 

 proof line is extended through the guides and a 

 latest pattern trolling-spoon attached. 



vol. ii. — 2 iy 



