44 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



experience, it does not do him the very least 

 harm ; as soon as he is released from durance 

 vile and placed in the tanks, he resumes the 

 even ten our of his way, probably till the follow- 

 ing Lent, when, as carpe au bleu, carpe en 

 matelote, carpe ait vin blanc, and in many other 

 still more savoury disguises, he helps the faith- 

 ful Catholic through his forty days' trial. 



While the fishing goes on, groups of women 

 make fires on the bank, and they heat 

 cauldrons of soup, mixed with strong red wine, 

 which is served out unceasingly in bowls to the 

 soaked and muddy fishermen. This is a 

 necessary precaution in a climate where people 

 are sometimes snowed up for days early in 

 November. The gipsy fires and groups of 

 women, the men wading through the mud and 

 water, mostly dressed in frieze coats of the 

 most brilliant hues, and with high boots to 

 protect them somewhat during their task ; the 

 piles of shining, glistening fish ; and, in the 

 background, the carts waiting to take away the 

 spoils, altogether make a highly picturesque 

 scene. 



