76 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 



for bait, caught some eels, and he, emulous of their suc- 

 cess, took the line after they had finished, and concluded 

 he would try his luck. Although he had been watching 

 their proceedings for an hour with the deepest interest, 

 he had no idea what they used for bait, and was forced 

 to inquire. They, with peals of laughter, suggested 

 alternately " a cup of tea, a bit of biscuit, a little ale, 

 a lump of sugar," and such other anomalous baits. 

 Although he at last succeeded in ascertaining from them 

 what they used, it was not to be supposed that he would 

 catch anything ; in fact, it is highly probable he fell 

 asleep over his rod and slept till morning. 



The next day we prepared for a portage of five miles 

 to the Lake la Yal, a pond of some two miles in length 

 by one in breadth, formed by the river's spreading out 

 and filling a valley in the hills. Walton donned a heavy 

 basket, Joe, our chief canoeman, took the canoe, while 

 Frangois, the lazy boy, carried a bundle of bedding. 

 "We crossed the river, and striking directly into the 

 woods, followed an Indian trail that had probably been 

 there before this continent was discovered by Columbus. 

 The mode of carrying the canoe was truly original ; it 

 was reversed and mounted on Joe's shoulders, and his 

 head being entirely concealed, he steadied it by holding 

 to one of the cross pieces, and, at a distance, looked like 

 some strange animal with a huge trunk, supported by 

 two little legs. It was surprising how he managed it 

 through the trees and among the underbrush, and even 

 ascended places where we were compelled to give our 

 legs the aid of our hands, not, however, without strenu- 

 ous exertion, and the perspiration streamed from him 



