80 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 
French verb, egogger^ to spear. Armed with it, and 
provided with make-shift tenting materials, we has- 
tened to the hike, and launching our canoe, tried its 
virtues upon the pickerel. The latter, however, were so 
scarce, that we rigged up the more effectual spinning 
tackle, and took a pickerel and a mascallonge of about 
twelve j)ounds each, and struck another of the latter 
very large, weighing, as well as could be guessed, from 
his passing close to the boat, about forty pounds. That 
night, provided with iiambeaux, we went out for the 
purpose of again trying to spear pickerel ; but, passing 
by the outlet of the pond, were so attracted by the 
numerous salmon, we could get no further. 
It was a romantic sight ; the canoe, lit up by the 
blazing flambeau, that was fastened, high above our heads, 
to a pole fixed in the bow, and by its glare made the 
surrounding darkness the more impenetrable ; the silence 
of the night was unbroken, except by the dip of the 
paddle ; and calmness of the water unruffled, through 
which the bewildered salmon lazily floated, following us 
about, coming so close that we could touch them with 
our hands, and occasionally jumping frantically into the 
air, utterly out of their wits and at the mercy of any 
poacher. "Walton»was excited, myself enthusiastic, but 
Joe was frantic ; " Egoggez done ! egoggez done P^ he 
shouted, wildly pushing at the fish with his paddle, and 
almost ready to jump out of the boat. My friend held 
the spear in hand — he was a splendid spearsman, and 
could have filled the boat with salmon ; but it was ille- 
gal as well as dishonorable to catch them in that manner 
— he wavered but a moment, and then with a sigh laj? 
