LAC EMMURAILLE 



guinary use? Let's go home. Can't you 

 see there's not a deleted fish in the incarna- 

 dine lake?' I judge that — what with 

 thirst, hunger, wetness and discouragement 

 — he was then approaching his emotional 

 nadir. The lake having vindicated itself 

 with first-fruits so worthy, the hour being 

 late, with other and better days to follow, 

 I threw out a suggestion that we should 

 now depart. 'Go home!' — he snorted scorn 

 and contempt upon me for a weakling; — 

 'Go home, forsooth! — when the place is 

 fairly stiff with big trout asking to be 

 caught!' Rebounding in one soaring 

 flight to the zenith, behold him attack the 

 lake again with ardour and fresh hope, 

 full of the burning faith which commands 

 success, and rewarded presently by a fish 

 that towed him hither and thither with 

 transfigured face, the battle-light shining 

 in his eyes. This was altogether a livelier 

 and more difficult fellow than the first, 

 though he proved to weigh half a pound 

 less. There was so end of trouble in getting 

 him to face the hateful net, but at length 

 the two lay side by side in the canoe, as 

 handsome a couple as one could ask to see. 

 i The next five days made a well-beaten 

 f'l path of the faint trail to Lac Emmuraille. 

 !', 97 



! 7 



