j OLD MURRAY BAY 



flattering criticism that none shall remain 

 against the morrow. And now the floor 

 is cleared, relays of musicians provided for 

 the piano, and the planks spring to the old 

 measures. Should things move too staidly 

 they are speeded on their way by jig, fling, 

 broom or garter dance. At length come 



\ Auld Lang Syne and Bon Soir mes Amis. 

 Laughter and snatches of song drift back 

 from groups departing into the darkness. 

 Their lanterns flicker through the trees. 

 The fire has burned away to red embers. 

 The quiet voice of the tides across the bar, 

 ceaseless but ever changing, steals again in- 

 to possession of the night. 



I The spirit informing the veillee of yore 



!was: Come, mes amis, let us be merry to- 

 gether, each after his kind, according to his 



i gifts. Now is it rather: Go ye, dance, 



jsing, fiddle,^ — hirelings for our amusing. 



i There was much sailing, rowing, pad- 

 dling; but the great river, with currents of 



ifive or six knots an hour, and winds that 

 suddenly arise, allows of no trifling. The 

 part of wisdom is to use the same degree of 



jcaution at all times, and that the extremest; 



ifor a capsize in such water is like to be 



deadly serious. Even where deliberate 



risks are avoided, awkward moments may 



41 



