FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



" Well, Brissette, it begins to look very doubt- 

 ful if your prediction will be fulfilled to-day. The 

 big lunge doesn't seem to want to make a call upon 

 the big ch — 



" Hold on, Brissette ! — hold on ! — we've struck 

 a snag ! " Whiz-izz-izz-zz-z goes the reel, the 

 fight is on, and we are launched at once into the 

 storm-centre of exciting sport. 



The fish threw his weight upon the rod, and it 

 yielded to the strain in graceful ellipse. Away he 

 goes down stream, pulling the boat after him as if 

 it was drawn by a stout pony. The strain is too 

 great, and he hurls himself defiantly out of the 

 water, the embodiment of untamed fury and pisca- 

 torial ferocity. 



" Mon Dieu ! mon Dieu ! but he is de bigges' 

 fader of dem all ! Nex' tarn he come, he eat up 

 your leetly string and feedle-steek, and laf at Yan- 

 kee man from Stait. Brissette mek him cool off, 

 and go 'long home wid him for sure." 



" Just wait a little, Brissette, and see what the 

 Yankee man and his fiddle-stick will do. He '11 

 cool him off all right." 



Down to the bottom he goes and sulks. A few 



very gentle turns of the reel, and, like a flash, out 



again comes the tiger of the waters, shaking his 



head to free himself from the cruel barb ; but the 



28 



