With Gun ^ Rod in Canada 



bottom of the craft, said craft moved skittishly out into 

 the stream. Sol's left foot being still on the float, he 

 began to perform the act described in acrobatic circles as 

 the " split." Seeing a catastrophe impending, Sheba 

 made a grab for the float. Sol sat gracefully down upon 

 the waters of Lake Ontario, then submerged, periscope 

 and all ! In her wild struggles to seize the float, the 

 ardent-haired one tipped over the ark and followed her 

 king. The attendant quickly pulled out the bedraggled 

 queen while the manager gaffed the gurgling Sol with 

 an ever-ready boat-hook and flopped him on to the 

 float. To add insult to injury, my friend had the nerve 

 to charge those two poor children of Israel one dollar 

 ($i.oo) for drenching the canoe furnishings ! That 

 looked to me the hardest dollar that ever Jewgave Gentile. 



This accident could have been avoided if Sol had 

 allowed the attendant to hold the canoe steadily beside 

 the float until both occupants were seated; or by the 

 lady holding the canoe gently to the float with the right 

 hand while her partner embarked; or by Sol kneeling 

 down (at the expense of the crease in his white trousers) 

 upon the float with his left knee and cautiously stepping 

 in with his right foot, exactly in the centre, holding on 

 to the dock with his left hand, then shipping his other 

 number eleven, and last removing his hand from the 

 dock and kneeling down. 



While laughingly discussing the above incident with 

 the manager of the boat-house, curiosity prompted me 

 to ask him why young men took such chances before they 

 learned how to handle a canoe. 



" Oh, I suppose they want to make a reputation for 

 themselves," he replied, turning to punch the tickets 

 of some newcomers. 



This reply made me think of other times and other 

 " reputations." 



54 



