STORY OF A PORCUPINE HUNT 53 



determined animal. But the more he pushed the 

 more determined did the animal become. Finally 

 he took the paddle and with it managed to shove 

 the creature back ; but with very nearly disastrous 

 results, for the punt swung broadside to the yellow 

 curling ripples, and only by good luck and prompt 

 action were we able to avert a capsize. Finally we 

 landed, a sadly bedraggled trio. The man's feet 

 looked much like pincushions, so full were they of 

 the porky's quills. It took us about an hour to 

 drive that animal to the snow patch and another 

 hour to persuade the obstinate bunch of quills to 

 pose as required by the story. Finally, however, 

 the picture was made, and as the animal had lost 

 so many of his quills we released him as being of 

 no further use. On returning to the farm we 

 found that the second one, which we had imagined 

 so securely imprisoned, had taken French leave, 

 and we were left without a model for to-morrow. 

 That night and several more we hunted in vain for 

 another suitable porky ; we found several, but all 

 were of most disreputable appearance. 



At length the man suggested that we go to some 

 woods five or six miles away. There not only should 

 we find an abundance of the animals we sought, but 

 the conditions would be thoroughly satisfactory for 

 the setting. All this sounded so hopeful that we 

 packed up, and with blankets, cameras, and food 

 supplies for five or six days we made an early start, 

 each of us carrying our loads of about sixty-five 

 pounds. It was a delightful walk through those 

 mixed forests ; at times we made our way among 

 the dark spruces and hemlocks, walking on the soft, 



