160 CANADIAN WILDS. 



between the buildings with his flopping gait in 

 a most ridiculous manner. 



In September, numbers of fine sea trout used 

 to come in the river each tide and go out with 

 the ebb. We placed a stand of old useless sal- 

 mon nets near the last sand point to create a 

 back-water, from which to fly-fish. Jack used 

 to accompany me on these fishing tours, and he 

 very soon came to understand what my whip- 

 ping the water was for. 



One day he wabbled down to the very edge 

 of the river, gazed up and down and across the 

 water, and the next instant dived in, with a 

 greasy, sliding motion. The waters closed over 

 him, and I paused in my pastime to see what 

 would happen next. I looked about in all direc- 

 tions for Jack, but not a ripple disturbed the 

 placid waters. He could not have been meshed 

 in the folds of the net, because I would have 

 seen the floats vibrate. So I stood there pon- 

 dering, my thoughts partly perplexed and partly 

 sorrowful for the possible loss of our pet. 



All at once I heard heavy breathing almost 

 at my feet, and looking down, there was Jack 

 with a fine 3^ Ib. sea trout crossways in his 

 mouth, which, on my calling his name, he depos- 

 ited at my feet. Then you may be sure I petted 

 the dear young fellow, and he seemed to under- 

 stand that what he had done was appreciated 



