CHAPTER XXIX 

 THE END OF THE TRIP 



AT " One-hundred-and-thirteen-mile House " we 

 came to one of the loveliest of lakes. It is about 

 fifteen miles long, but not very wide. The water is of 

 exquisite clearness ; indeed, so clear is it that the pas- 

 time of skating for fish when the first clear ice forms in 

 the early fall is indulged in by lads, lasses and mature 

 men and women. 



This lake is celebrated as being the home of a species 

 of trout or char, some of which grow to a very large 

 size and are of delicious flavor. The first ice is so clear 

 that the fish can readily be seen through it, and then 

 the skaters assemble in large numbers and follow them 

 in their quick movements in the endeavor to drive them 

 close to shore, where the water is shallow enough to 

 hedge them in under the ice ; they are then dispatched 

 by breaking the ice and spearing them. 



The sport is said to be very exciting, and catches are 

 often made by the skaters in large enough quantity to 

 salt away for the winter's use. 



Tradition says that a Frenchman was chopping 

 through the heavy ice in late winter with an axe, and 

 that when a hole in the ice was finally cut through, the 



