A NIGHT IN A TUB 53 



moon illuminated the surface of tlie lake until it ap- 

 peared a vast expanse of rippling, molten silver, and the 

 air, although keen, was dry and invigorating. Following 

 close in the wake of my companion's boat, I started upon 

 what was to me an unknown voyage, as I had never 

 before visited the lagoons. Max did not venture very 

 far away from terra firma, however, and the dim outUne 

 of the low-lying shore was always to be seen from the 

 boats. On and on pulled the stalwart German at a pace 

 which proclaimed him to be no mean oarsman. Indeed, 

 it would have been strange had he not proved himself 

 a good sculler, seeing that he was a favourite pupil of 

 Edward Hanlan, ex-champion sculler of the world, whose 

 island-hotel was situate in Toronto Bay. 



Suddenly I found my boat in the midst of a carpet- 

 Uke growth of water plantains, through which it was 

 impossible to use the oars. I, therefore, took a long 

 iron-shod pole and commenced to punt through the dense 

 aquatic growth. It was hard work, and my not over- 

 brawny arms ached painfully long before the fowhng 

 grounds were reached. At length, however, just as I 

 began to wonder when my " term of hard labour " 

 would expire, my companion's boat disappeared into a 

 belt of high reeds, and putting on a " spurt " I followed, 

 to find myself in an oval sedge -fringed pan of moonht 

 water. 



The Teuton now proceeded to find the driest foot- 

 hold he was able among the reeds, and then, having sunk 

 my tub to within a couple of feet of the surface of the 



