CHAPTER III 



BEGINNING OF THE MIGRATION AT MILLAIS'S LAKE 



" What's this French shore question," I said to Bob one 

 evening. 



" There ain't no French shore question — least not in New- 

 fun'lan'," said Little Bob, with a certain tinge of sarcasm. 

 " We heard tell that in your papers they're alius talkin' 

 about the French shore, and what right the Frenchies have 

 thar'. But, sure 'nough, didn't these Frenchies make them 

 villages, and work the land after the Government let them 

 settle there. Yes, right enough. Well, those Frenchies hev 

 been settled there that long, I guess neither English nor 

 French Government's goin' to turn 'em out, and what's morei 

 no Newfun'lan'er grudges them their luck, though they hev 

 got the only bit of coast that isn't worked out and fished 

 to death." ^ 



" How's that, Saunders ? " 



" Lobsters, jest lobsters. They fishes lobsters, and makes 

 a good thing of it, though they are growing a bit scarce 

 now. Up there along the French shore the youngsters is 

 born web-footed, and the old folk watch the ebb-tide. Yet 

 it takes more brains to catch an old gran'pa lobster than 

 a cod, one of those old fellows with seaweed on his back 

 and a pair of nippers that could bite yer head off. He's 

 brains, I tell you, and it needs brainy men like those 



' Since this was written, the French shore question has been settled by the 

 payment of a large sum on the part of the English Government. All the French 

 settlers have now left. 



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