FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



oars, as would otherwise probably have been the 

 case. 



This seemed to touch his angry spot anew, and 

 again he essayed to leap out of the water, as his 

 only hope of escape ; but he was now so exhausted 

 that he was unable to force himself out of the 

 water, and only his head and back showed above 

 the surface. 



Alas, good fighter ! Alas, mighty warrior ! 

 All danger is now past, and it is only a question 

 of patience, care, and time before your royal sway 

 is at an end. 



The fight was fast and furious, permitting of 

 no conversation or idle banter. Brissette, while 

 carefully managing the boat, did not for an in- 

 stant cease to regard the, to him, unequal contest 

 with an intensity of interest bordering upon en- 

 thusiasm and excitement. 



"Ah! Brissette," I ventured at last, "see, the 

 big fellow is getting tired. Now, what do you 

 think of the fiddle-string and fiddle-stick?" 



" Bah gosh ! feedle-string and feedle-steek all 

 right, when Yankee man play de feedle, bah gosh ! 

 I nevaire see like dat, me ! " 



This by way of compliment and praise, for your 

 Frenchman is nothing if not polite and compli- 

 mentary. 



30 



