TORCH-FISHING. 79 



been watcliing from a neighbouring tree-top the 

 moment when the sentinels turned their backs^ to 

 get a good fill of the saccharine juice. "There's a 

 specimen of what's to come/' cried Mr. Bergeron, 

 as the workmen came forward to welcome their 

 master. 



" Well, boys, well ! " said he, " and how goes the 

 crop ? " 



" Oh ! yes, sir ; very well. The barrels are fill- 

 ing, and before the week's out we must have them 

 emptied." 



" We'll see to this. Is breakfast over ? " 



" Not yet, sir." 



" Very well ; then let something be got ready, for 

 I'm devilish hungry, and so's my friend here, I dare 

 say." At these orders, they laid upon four rough 

 planks, mounted upon as many oak logs, a smoked 

 bear's ham, stewed opossum, hot corn-cakes, and a 

 jug of maple juice, mixed with a little rum, and 

 really very pleasant tipple. Bread made of barley 

 and wheat flour mixed completed the repast, to 

 which we did ample justice. 



As soon as this was over, Mr. Bergeron invited 

 me to accompany him into the forest, and examine 

 the process of gathering the harvest of maple sugar. 

 A brief summary of what I learnt about the sylvan 

 sugar crop which enriches Illinois will not be out of 

 place. 



The sugar maple of the States is the tree which 



