A Cruise on Lake Rossignol 



into deep water. I kept her headed just enough to star- 

 board so that we were making for our objective, and at 

 the same time headed as nearly as possible into the 

 wickedest, meanest, straight-up-and-down, curling lop 

 that it was ever my misfortune to encounter in any boat 

 or in any water. And I have been sailing since I was 

 a kid. 



We made the lee of Smart's Island, and tied up to an 

 oak-tree in a cove on the shore. There we stayed for 

 two days and two nights in the most tremendous uproar 

 of the elements that has been known hereabouts in fifty 

 years. Luckily we found a little flour in the cabin and 

 plenty of dry wood. If ever three marooned or ship- 

 wrecked sailors were glad to see fire and food, we 

 were it ! 



As there was no meat in the camp, the next morning 

 I went hunting to look for a stray partridge or rabbit 

 on the island. Luckily I discovered a nice fat porcupine 

 petulantly shinning a hemlock. A bullet in the back of 

 the head brought him to the ground, and the hunting- 

 knife, carefully manipulated, soon separated his fat 

 carcass from his prickly armour. He furnished a stew, 

 and the liver was a palatable broil. Although Pat was 

 hungry for meat, he was a good Catholic. It being 

 Friday, he crossed himself and desisted. Some people 

 would desist whether the Pope so decreed or otherwise. 

 We have a good receipt for a planked porcupine. If 

 anyone would like to have it, write me in care of the 

 Publisher, and I shall be pleased to oblige. 



On the morning of the third day the wind swung more 

 to the north, though still blowing a gale, and the sun 

 shone fitfully through black, driving clouds. The 

 change in wind gave us a little more of a lee from the 

 western shore, so we nosed that sturdy little Seabright 

 dory out into the smother. As our food had given out, 



225 p 



