ite plain that we can have no more wading after ducks, but the
fish won't object to feed in cold weather, so we'll try them again after
having had a bit to eat."

In pursuance of this plan the two went to the wharf, after having
refreshed themselves, and set to work with the fishing-line. Nelly
baited the hook, and Roy cut a hole in the ice with his axe. Having put
in the hook, and let it down to the bottom, they stood at the edge of
the hole--expectant!

"Frost seems to spoil their appetite," said Roy, in a tone of
disappointment, after about five minutes had elapsed.

A fish seemed to have been listening, for before Nelly could reply,
there came a violent tug at the line. Roy returned a still more violent
tug, and, instead of hauling it up hand over hand, ran swiftly along the
ice, drawing the line after him, until the fish came out of the hole
with a flop and a severe splutter. It was above four pounds weight, and
they afterwards found that the deeper the water into which the line was
cast the larger were the fish procured. White-fish were the kind they
caught most of, but there were a species of trout, much resembling a
salmon in colour and flavour, of which they caught a good many above ten
and even fifteen pounds weight. All these fish, except those reserved
for immediate use, they cleaned and hung up in the manner already
described.

Thus they occupied themselves for several days, and as the work was
hard, they did not wander much from their hut, but ate their meals with
appetite, and slept at nights soundly.

One night, just as they were about to lay down to rest, Roy went out to
fetch an armful of firewood. He returned with a look of satisfaction on
his face.

"Look here, Nell, what call ye that?" pointing to a few specks of white
on his breast and arms.

"Snow!" exclaimed Nelly.

"Ay--snow! it's come at last, and I am glad of it, for we have far more
than enough o' grub now, and it's time we were off from this. You see,
lass, we can't expect to find much game on a journey in winter, so we
must carry all we can with us. Our backs won't take so much as the
sled, but the sled can't go loaded till there's snow on the ground, so
the moment there is enough of it we'll set off. Before starting,
hows'ever, I must go off and try for a deer, for men can't walk well on
fish alone; and when I'm away you can be getting the snow-shoes
repaired, and the sled-lashings overhauled. We will set about all tha