A DAT WITH MASCALONGE 



" You be sure, no ! Rain look mos' gon* by. 

 I go on de brook for ten — fifteen minutes, — den 

 you come on de boat." 



The time had passed, the rain had ceased, the 

 air was refreshed and agreeably tempered. Meet- 

 ing at the boat by appointment, Brissette exhib- 

 ited a " chub " at least ten inches long, which he 

 had caught in the brook, and which he said was 

 to be my bait. 



" Great Scott, Brissette ! — you don't mean it ! 

 Why, that fish is almost large enough to carry 

 home to stuff and bake! It will frighten any 

 lunge out of his wits ! " 



" You for do my way, hein ? Well, Brissette 

 acquaint wid dese lunge, and he know what he 

 lak pour manger for him supper." 



While engaged in this conversation Brissette 

 was mounting the " chub." He peeled and 

 sharpened a small sapling, with which he made 

 a perforation from the head along the backbone 

 to the rear of the dorsal fin. Through this he 

 passed a copper wire which he made thoroughly 

 secure to a hook large enough and strong enough 

 to hold a shark. He then withdrew the copper 

 wire until the shank of the hook was drawn into 

 the opening made by the sapling, and so concealed 

 in the body of the fish. He next passed the point 

 2 5 



