THE UPPER RAPIDS. 147 



"No bowl!" said the Parson; "what a 

 helpless set of people you are here ! There 

 is the bait-kettle, and what would you have 

 better ? Throw those Jenkins out, Pat, and 

 give the kettle a rinse. Put on the coffee- 

 pot full of clean water — that twice full will 

 be as much as vou can want. Our coffee- 

 cups will serve us for glasses ; and as for the 

 men, look here!" and he cracked off the 

 top of an egg with his crimping-knife, and, 

 shaking out the inside into the fire, held up 

 the shell, " I should like to know what you 

 want more ? " 



The hint was soon acted upon. The 

 coffee-pot and the saucepan that had boiled 

 the eggs were put into requisition, and in a 

 quarter-of-an -hour's time the bait-kettle was 

 steaming with punch, the smell of which 

 attracted not only the party and their at- 

 tendants, but some three or four men also, 

 who, their day's work being finished, were 

 now on their road to the fair, on the prin- 

 ciple of "better late than never." 



" Come along, boys ! " said the jolly old 

 Squire ; " don't be modest : shove in your 

 egg-shells, too ! there is plenty for all. I'll 

 bale the stuff with my coffee-cup. Down 



