s. He was some quarter mile ahead of them and they
could not get near him in the rapids. They kept on going, however,
although they were afraid that he would hit his head on some sharp rock
and be drowned.

"One of the nephews then went up the river by the portage trail, and in
another hour the small tribe and the old Montagnais chief were gathered
around Pierre, hearing of his remarkable escape from death in the rapids
and his more remarkable catch of the giant salmon. They roasted the fish
for dinner and had a great feast in honor of the occasion. Pierre stated
that this was the biggest salmon he had ever seen and that it was just
luck that he had caught it. He gave himself some credit for the bait
that had tempted the fish, but otherwise he felt that it was only luck
that had brought the fish down through the rapids with him."

Bob stopped here and looked out at the rain which was still coming down
steadily.

"Pierre has had some adventures in his life," said Bill.

"He told me another story about that trip up the Shipshaw, and though I
tried to explain it to him, he could not see it," said Bob.

"What was that?" asked Pud.

"According to Pierre the Good Spirit showed that he was displeased at
him for catching the fish. As they were going down a wide reach of the
river two days later they saw a big pearshaped black object rise into
view over the hilltops. It sailed on over them and just as it was above
them, it dropped a rock which went right through Pierre's canoe. If the
other canoe had not been near, they would not have had time to save
anything. As it was, they saved all their duffle, and, going ashore,
they soon had the canoe in shape again. Pierre felt that the Great
Spirit had thus reminded him of his sacrilege in killing the big spirit
fish. I tried to tell Pierre that he had seen a big balloon, and I
called to mind that in that very year a big balloon had floated far into
the wilderness. Pierre would have no such explanation. To him, the big
object was a direct visitation of the Great Spirit, It completely
terrorized, him and his mates, and he said that he would always remember
it."

Here Bob paused and Pud took occasion to ask:

"Did Pierre get back all right after his trip?"

"Oh, yes; though he had one more experience that was not very pleasant,"
said Bob.

"What was that?" asked Bill.

"As I have already mentioned, they got out of their canoes and went
inland every few miles to scout around