OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 



29 



guides, therefore, kept close in to the river-bank, and when 

 it became apparent that a canoe would soon sink it was 

 quickly paddled to the shore, drawn upon the dry land and 

 the water emptied out. Let the kind reader now imagine 

 himself seated in such a craft as I have just described, 

 under the same circumstances, and I think he will fully 

 excuse me if I say nothing about the condition of our 

 clothing, etc. 



• Say nothing about the condition of our clothing." 



During this short journey from Baysville to the lake our 

 sturdy friend Esculapius completely lost his patience, and 

 pitched a poor little water-spaniel off the canoe into the 

 water. This was a doo; that the sfuides had borrowed for 

 us at Bracebridge, that we might at least have some canine 

 company while hunting partridges. The poor dog did not 

 have much reputation as an assistant in hunting, but I 

 really think he must have possessed a great deal of dignity, 

 inasmuch as he never showed himself in our presence 

 again. 



Esculapius was very frequently reminded of this sad 



