THE CAPTAIN AND CREW. 259 
On 

‘¢ Had he only telegraphed a little sooner with his whistle,” 
said the captain, ‘‘ we would have arisen earlier to receive 
him.” 
The tent flaps are tied back and the fire soon blazing. 
After a good cool bathing of the face and hands at the river, 
> 
with plenty of good ‘* Welcome” soap (always needed when 
camping,) we are again all fresh for the day. Firstly, 
breakfast seems to be in order for the first move always, 
and we immediately trot out the wherewith, and make the 
coffee, which in a short time, with the dry driftwood fire, is 
sending its aroma out on the breeze. And now we have the 
fried pork ready for the trout; in fact it is too near the 
crisping point, and we are just taking it off the coals in front 
of the fire when we hear peculiar exclamations from the 
captain and see him reaching for his rifle. 
*¢Oh! you little thief, but I will—no, I will not shoot you 
after all, for your fur is not prime. That’s too cute for 
anything; same time I want to kill you.” 
A mink, with the very last one of the trout which were on 
the canoe bottom, was just entering the stream with it in her 
mouth, when he first saw her, and was now swimming with 
it, safely across to a heap of driftwood upon the opposite 
shore, where her whole mink family were likely feasting upon 
the others. We substitute a partridge in place, though the 
fish are jumping at the moment within thirty feet of us. But 
fried partridge, quickly browned, for a change, cut not too 
thin, just right, is not over-coarse eating, we tell the captain, 
as he is, or rather has been known to demur somewhat 
against this frying process. But now our breakfast is ready. 
At home, they are about this time in the morning just 
turning over for their best sleep; while we, having retired 
. 
