A LABRADOR SPRING 



trappers visit him who have never before met 

 with such a piece of civilization as a billiard 

 table, he has innocently amused himself by 

 showing them grotesque ways of playing, using 

 the butt end of the cue or pushing it with both 

 hands as gravely as if it were the approved 

 method, but, however he plays, he is easily a 

 match for half a dozen of them. 



I am sure we shall never forget him nor the 

 dinner at his house. After several days' cruising 

 in " La Belle Marguerite " we landed at his little 

 bay, and paid our respects to him. Our cre- 

 dentials as scientific bird students obtained 

 from the department of Colonization, Mines 

 and Fisheries of Quebec served here as else- 

 where to introduce us, and we were soon deep 

 in a laboured conversation on the subject of 

 the birds of Labrador. Laboured the con- 

 versation certainly was on our parts, for, as 

 our host spoke only French, we were obliged 

 to resort at times to our guide, companion and 

 friend a pocket conversational dictionary. 



As we beheld ourselves for the first time for 

 many days in the mirror of the dressing-room 

 where our host left us to prepare for dinner, our 

 hearts failed us, and I left my friend con- 



144 



