A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 87 



after place that we passed before with such rapidity, and 

 sunset again found us only thirty-three miles on our way. 

 We ran into a little bay at the mouth of the Escomain, 

 where, having built a huge fire and eaten a hearty sup- 

 per, we slept, on . a bed of the softest pebble stones, 

 soundly and sweetly till the first grey light of daybreak, 

 when we continued our journey along a coast so poor 

 that the best fed hogs are, as we were credibly informed, 

 light and weak enough to be blown over by a strong 

 wind, and mill-stones, to say nothing of the miller, 

 starve for want of grain. 



Again the hills of the Saguenay rise to our view, 

 Tadousac rests calmly in its nook, and the sun shines on 

 the white houses of L'Anse ^ I'Eau as when we left. 

 Our trip is done. The La Yal will live in our memory 

 as long as we can cast a fly — aye, and when gout or age 

 shall have laid us on the shelf. To you, my friend, the 

 genial companion of my trip, I give my thanks ; may we 

 meet again, and once more stand side by side upon some 

 projecting rock, as fish after fish rises to our fly. May 

 you long live to enjoy the sport at which you so excel, 

 and may you leave children that can cast a fly as well. 

 To the stately St. Lawrence, to the magnificent Sague- 

 nay, to the beautiful La Val, a long farewell. 



