SNAKES. 383 



wooded to the margin. Beside the fall was a saw-mill 

 belonging to a descendant of the French aristocracy, 

 who had emigrated before the days of " The Empire." 

 Whether or not the proprietor happened to be at 

 home, a cordial welcome could be relied upon, and the 

 fishing underneath the fall was always excellent some- 

 times so good that your bait would scarcely touch the 

 water ere it was seized. However, there was one 

 drawback, for the spot was infested with snakes, par- 

 ticularly a large, thick, dirty-brown water species, 

 which looked exceedingly venomous. From the in- 

 difference with which the mill hands treated them, I 

 imagine their look was worse than their bite. They 

 had, however, a penchant for minnow, for I saw one 

 captured on the hook. As the wild fowl migrate this 

 is a splendid stand ; for if the weather is in the least 

 stormy, with .an indication of cold, the ducks keep 

 passing all day, and their flight invariably is so low 

 that they are well within range. By following the 

 Severn down to its junction with Lake Huron, plenty 

 of occupation can be found for both rod and gun ; and 

 the appetite your open-air life will impart will make 

 all you eat taste superior to anything obtained in 

 civilized quarters. 



THE END. 



LONDON : 

 BPALBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS 



