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CHAPTER XVII. 



DELICATE LUXURY A HURRICANE CONTRETEMPS TO THE CANOE 



DISTURBED IN A DAY-DREAM NARROW ESCAPE FROM A BEAR 



TICKS GREY WOLVES MUSIC OF THE WINDS THE CANOE IN A 



RAPID HUMBUG AN AUTHORITY ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE majority of English readers will scarcely agree 

 with me when I assert for the antipathies of the bulk 

 of my countrymen are strong against using such food 

 that there is not a more delicate luxury than frogs. 

 Day and night these creatures were croaking round 

 us in great numbers, so I determined to have a dish 

 of them when opportunity offered. This afternoon 

 such an occasion happened, and, with great satisfac- 

 tion, I availed myself of it. As snags were abundant, 

 and a collision with one would probably have scuttled 

 our flimsy craft, we landed among the reeds about an 

 hour previous to sunset. Procuring a long rod, I 

 fastened on the end of it, attached to six inches of 

 thin string, a hook, with a small piece of my red 

 woollen shirt lashed to its shank, and hanging over 

 the barb. With this novel implement I was most suc- 

 cessful, for I had but to dangle the lure in front of a 

 croaker and immediately he jumped at it. Sometimes 

 the first effort was unsuccessful, but the second or 

 third seldom failed to secure the prize. 



