PERSEVERE 223 



a feast. When Gun removed his giant 

 frame, John was able to push the boat far 

 enough ahead to escape his foot-holes when 

 we started. The boat had to be left with the 

 guns in her till morning, held by the anchor, 

 while we trudged for the shore. Now we are 

 all working towards that light on the bank, 

 wondering we don't hear from those fellows 

 on the shore. Away ahead Gun calls out 

 again, " There, I've lost my boot !" while 

 Bac's guttural tone to the north of us starts 

 out in lively melody, " Persevere and never 

 mind it," followed at the close by Pat's, 

 with the still livelier tune of " Three Little 

 Birds are we." Bac breaks in on the ominous 

 silence which followed these hearty outbursts 

 with, " Oh, crikey ! my boots are both full, 

 and a great splash of mud has just struck 

 me in the eye ! " responded to by Gun, who 

 is quite a distance ahead. " Bac ! " "What ? " 

 ' ' ' Persevere and never mind it. ' Where's Pat ? ' ' 

 While the others are having this interesting 

 experience, he is off to the left of them. 

 Thought he would get on to hard pan ahead 

 and have the laugh on them. He is working 

 hard, but watch him. Eight in his track is a 



