76 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 
for bait, caught some eels, and lie, emulons of their suc- 
cess, took the line after they had finished, and concluded 
he would try his luck. Although he had been watching 
their proceedings for an hour with the deepest interest, 
he had no idea what they used for bait, and was forced 
to inquire. They, with peals of laughter, suggested 
alternately *' a cup of tea, a bit of biscuit, a little ale, 
a lump of sugar," and such other anomalous baits. 
Although he at last succeeded in ascertaining from them 
what they nsed, it was not to be supposed that he would 
catch anything ; in fact, it is highly probable he fell 
asleep over his rod and slept till morning. 
The next day we prepared for a portage of five miles 
to the Lake la Yal, a pond of some two miles in length 
by one in breadth, formed by the river's spreading out 
and filling a valley in the hills. Walton donned a heavy 
basket, Joe, onr chief canoeman, took the canoe, while 
Frangois, the lazy boy, carried a bundle of bedding. 
We crossed the river, and striking directly into the 
woods, followed an Indian trail that had probably been 
there before this continent was discovered by Columbus. 
The mode of carrying the canoe was truly original ; it 
was reversed and mounted on Joe's shoulders, and his 
head being entirely concealed, he steadied it by holding 
to one of the cross pieces, and, at a distance, looked like 
some strange animal with a huge trunk, supported by 
two little legs. It was surprising how he managed it 
through the trees and among the underbrush, and even 
ascended places where we were compelled to give our 
legs the aid of our hands, not, however, without strenu- 
ous exertion, and the perspiration streamed from him 
