146 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



paid small attention to the proportions in mixing his brandy 

 and water. The cloud-compelling Jove would have 

 hidden his diminished head had he seen the wreaths of 

 curling smoke which came pouring forth from his lips. 

 The rest of us talked over the events of the day, and " twice 

 we slew the slain ; " when the Commissioner made an obser- 

 vation on the weight and freshness of the salmon we had 

 that day killed, as indicative that they were the heralds of 

 a new run of large fish. 



" Do you know," said the Cajjtain, " that the very same 

 idea was passing through my mind, and that I think it 

 folly for us to remain here, losing four or five hours in 

 each da}^ going to the pools, when we might just as well 

 wait for a fair wind at the camping ground." 



The Baron looked steadily at him and finished his 

 glass of grog. 



" I was all along opposed to our coming on board till 

 everything was ready for a start," said the Commissioner. 

 Here the Baron mixed another glass of brandy and water 

 with still less regard to the usual proportions. 



"Well then," said the Captain, "let us put it to the vote. 

 Old Jean Pare the pilot says that we shall have to-morrow 

 un gros nord-est, and there's no manner of use in stay- 

 ing here to be tossed about like shuttlecocks at nio-ht and 

 to break our hearts in polling up against the stream in 

 the morning. I am for pitching our tents again. Come, 

 Commissioner, what say you ? " 



