THE WING-FOOTED 



over the lake, were picked up here and 

 there, now a Malbaie, now a brook trout, 

 and both yielding to the butt only at the 

 end of an honourable contest. Such 

 sport makes one forget fatigues, and 

 fills a pleasant page for memory to turn 

 of a winter evening. . . . 



Time reluctantly to depart, but first 

 the reckoning: "We are much in your 

 debt, Monsieur, and for more than lodg- 

 ing and food : for these what do we owe 

 you?" 



"You speak of what you owe me?" 

 "Of that precisely, Monsieur." 

 "But, Monsieur, you owe me no- 

 thing." 



"It is not reasonable: you have 

 brought eggs and milk and bread a long 

 thirty miles for our better entertain- 

 ment, and you yourself were on the lake 

 before sunrise and for ten hours have 

 paddled us in your chaland." 



"You are good enough, Monsieur, to 

 say that you have been pleased : pray be 



96 



