TORCH-FISHING. 87 



basket filled with maple-sugar waste, and tlu'ew it 

 by handfuls into the stream. There is no better 

 ground bait for the fish. I did not know that at 

 the time, but I soon came to understand the value 

 of those honied flakes, and the importance of the 

 part they play in a nocturnal fishing expedition on 

 the Dyots. 



We ghded on silently over the water, and when 

 we reached the middle, remained motionless, waiting 

 for the signal to commence operations. In the 

 silence which pervaded the place, we could hear 

 distinctly the voices, the cries, and the shouts of 

 laughter of the people at the Sugar Camp. Pre- 

 sently, however, came a whistle through the air, and 

 a streak of flame lit up the scene. 



" That's the signal," whispered Mr. Bergeron ; 

 " the men will light the torches and we must each 

 take a harpoon, taking care tp fasten the rope to the 

 wrist. I go to the prow and you to the boat^s stern. 

 Once there, look out, and take care not to shake the 

 boat, for the slightest movement stirs up the water." 



I followed up his directions to the letter ; for it is 

 certain that, however little notice fish may take of 

 the talking or singing of any body on the bank, 

 the mere shock of a footstep will scatter far and wide 

 in great alarm every fish that happens to be in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Obedient to my host's orders, Samson and Jupiter 

 — a nigger whom my host familiarly nick-named 



