92 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



what I thought was a likely looking spot, I set to 

 work to cut through the ice, while my companions 

 rode some way further up the stream. 



I cut and chopped and got pretty warm, for it 

 is no joke cutting through two feet of solid ice, and, 

 after some labour, struck down upon an almost dry 

 gravel bed. I repeated the same operation the 

 second time to my great disgust ; but on the third 

 attempt the axe went suddenly through into deep 

 water. You know something about it, and will agree 

 with me that the proper way to set to work is to 

 chop a square hole, taking pains to cut down very 

 evenly ; the improper way is to do as I did the first 

 time — cut carelessly, get down deeper on one side 

 of the square than on the other, suddenly strike 

 the axe through, and get the hole full of water, 

 while yet there are several inches of ice to be cut 

 through. If anyone will try chopping ice in a hole 

 two feet deep and full of water, he will discover 

 that the splashing, though graceful to look at, is 

 not comfortable to feel in cold weather. Fishing 

 through the ice is chilly and depressing work. I 

 mean such fishing as I am thinking of when you are 

 exposed to all the keen airs of heaven, a solitary 

 shivering mortal out all alone in the wilderness. 

 Of course if two young persons go out fishing for 



