al holes in the ice,
at the distance of about six feet from each other, and all in one line.
He had already provided himself with a straight sapling of more than six
feet in length, to one end of which he had attached a cord. The other
end of this cord was tied to the net, at one of its corners. He now
thrust the sapling through the first hole he had made, and then guided
it so as to pass directly under the second. At this hole he took a
fresh hold of the stick, and passed it along to the next, and so on to
the last, where he pulled it out again, and of course along with it the
string. The net was now drawn into the first hole, and by means of the
cord already received through, was pulled out to its full length. The
sinkers, of course, fell down in the water, and drew it into a vertical
position. At both its upper corners the net was made fast above the
ice, and was now "set." Nothing more could be done until the fish came
into it of their own accord, when it could be drawn out upon the ice by
means of the cord attached; and, of course, by the same means could
easily be returned to its place, and set again.

All of them now went back to the fire, and with hungry looks sat around
it, waiting the result. They had made up their minds, should no fish be
caught, to get once more into the canoe and attempt breaking their way
to the shore. Summoning all their patience, therefore, they waited for
nearly two hours, without examining the net. Then Norman and Basil
crawled back upon the ice, to see what fortune had done for them. They
approached the spot, and, with their hearts thumping against their ribs,
untied the knot, and commenced hauling out.

"It certainly feels heavy," said Basil, as he net was being drawn.
"Hurrah!" he shouted, "Something kicks, hurrah!" and with the second
"hurrah!" a beautiful fish was pulled up through the hole, and landed
upon the ice. A loud "hurrah" was uttered in response by Lucien and
Francois--who, fearing the ice might not bear so many, had remained upon
the shore. A yard or two more of the net was cleared, and a second fish
still larger than the former was greeted with a general "hurrah!" The
two fish were now taken out--as these were all that had been caught--and
the net was once more carefully set. Basil and Norman came back to the
shore--Norman to receive quite a shower of compliments from his
companions. The fish--the largest of which weighed nearly five pounds--
proved to