A WILD GOOSE CHASE. 179 



confess, neither better nor worse for the penance, then, 

 as we were free to please ourselves, put rods and tackle 

 into a car and made off in the supposed direction of 

 the lake, trusting that, more by chance than the valu- 

 able information obtained, we might hit upon it before 

 the day was over. 



We drove and drove, but no semblance of a lake 

 appeared, and after casting about in several directions 

 we gave it up, having at least compassed seven or eight 

 miles, and decided to drive ahead just to see the country, 

 when suddenly about a quarter of a mile from the 

 road-side, a huge bed of sword-rushes came in view 

 with something in the midst of them like a small piece 

 of glass. "There's the lake!'' we all shouted while the 

 jarvey pulled up the mare, and out we got with rods 

 and tackle, telling the coachman to look after himself 

 until we should return, probably about 6.30. 



As we approached we found the lake was larger than 

 we had at first thought, but when we got close could not 

 see it at all for the thick belt of high rushes which 

 surrounded it. 



Having found the lake, the next consideration was 

 how to find the boat, if it still existed, and inasmuch 

 as by its aid appeared the only possible chance of 

 reaching the water, we at once began the search. 



We bad read in books that explorers had discovered 

 from elevations, lowlands which they must necessarily 

 have previously traversed ; so, as not to be behindhand, 

 we climbed the nearest eminence in order to spot the lay 

 of the boat, and were duly rewarded with the sight of 



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