Tragic Fishing Moments 



asked. " It seems as if it might kinder clear my 

 mind," he added pathetically. 



" Go ahead," the Madame answered cheerfully ; and 

 the guide, after filling his pipe with the worst tobacco 

 money could buy, poisoned the atmosphere with great 

 gouts of smoke. 



For a time he smoked in silence; then he turned to 

 me. " If I'd stopped to think," he said heavily, " I 

 could have told that that there mink warn't no tame 

 mink. But that woman kinder terrifies me always 

 did. I wouldn't a-missed it, though now that it's 

 over. Gosh, you're a wonderful liar ! " And the glow 

 of honest admiration upon his features indicated that 

 his latter remark was intended as a compliment. 



" I couldn't see any reason for your fear," I said 

 loftily, choosing to ignore fulsome praise of a dis- 

 reputable, but useful, accomplishment. 



" That's all right. If you weren't scared, you hid 

 your feelings well," he rejoined dryly. "Anyway, 

 if it had been her mink, you'd have just gone back 

 to the city. I'd have to leave home. Sssssssh ! She's 

 coming back." 



She came, and she brought a sack with her. Aided 

 and abetted by her, also admonished, directed and 

 supervised, we drowned the mink. And as it per- 

 ished, she engaged us in conversation, a conversation 

 to which the Madame and I contributed little and the 

 guide nothing at all. As we withdrew the mink's 



48 



