TORCH-FISHING. 91 



oars, as fiercely as if Xerxes were flagellating au- 

 other Hellespont. Whilst flogging the water in this 

 manner, we rowed onwards towards the net, and 

 could perceive by the light of the fire upon the rock 

 the pieces of cork which were there to keep the net 

 floating dancing in a very significant manner. Four 

 stout fellows stood, two on either bank of the Dyots, 

 holding the ropes of the net, and ready to draw it 

 upon a signal from Mr. Bergeron. 



" We shall have a splendid haul,^^ cried he ; " look 

 there ! Don't it look like a sail bellied out with 

 the wind, and ready to burst. Now, boys ; one, two, 

 three." 



The four men dragged at the ropes at the word of 

 command, and presently the net made its appear- 

 ance at the surface fall of fi.sh. There they were 

 struggling and writhing about ; for all the world like 

 ''fish out of water;" trout of all sizes, and salmon, 

 some hanging to the net by their gills, and others in 

 the purses of the net. In truth it was a " mira- 

 culous draught ; " for on counting the take we 

 found that there were a hundred and twenty-two 

 trouts of different sizes and fifty-seven salmon, 

 varying from five or six and twenty pounds to seven 

 or eight. The total weight of the catch was over 

 seven hundred and fifty pounds. 



By this time, the moon was shining in full splen- 

 dour, and the brilliant goddess lighted us on our 

 way back to the Sugar Camp, where Mr. Bergeron 



