314 CAPTURE OF A FISCHER. 



nrncli worse, that by two o'clock we were obliged to 

 determine on a disembarcation and devote our talents 

 to the task of endeavouring to cobble up afresh 

 those places that ceased to resist the invasion of 

 water. The country since morning had become more 

 open and park-like, with the surface more rolling 

 and rocky. By sunset I had made the last stitch 

 that completed our repairs, and the sun, as if approv- 

 ing our industry, showed his roseate face to cheer our 

 depressed spirits. Constant wet, more especially when 

 one is insufficiently clothed, is excessively weakening, 

 and with exhaustion invariably come the blues. 



During the afternoon the old man had set a fall 

 trap within a short distance of our encampment. A 

 couple of hours after dark he heard it go down, for 

 the gale had died out, and all nature was reposing in 

 most perfect silence, as if to rest from the fatigue 

 resulting from past exertions. In a few minutes 

 my companion returned with the-prize. Although 

 professing an intimate knowledge of the animal I felt 

 convinced from a casual remark he made, that he 

 was ignorant of its name, and supposed it to belong 

 to a different race. But as he never would ac- 

 knowledge ignorance on any subject, possibly with 

 the intention of teasing, I pestered him to tell me 

 its sobriquet. All the finesse I used was of no avail ; 

 my queries were adroitly avoided and the tables 

 turned upon me. So I gave up the attempt, at the 

 same time informing him that the unknown was a 

 half-grown fischer. 



