me information that we should pass through a wonderful nut-grove
on the banks of the canal, where she prophesied that we should have a real
royal time. And she was about right!

Such a profusion of filberts I never have seen before. The trees literally
were interlaced across the canal, and being in a perfectly out-of-the-way
spot, where scarcely anyone but the canal-boat people passed, the branches
were simply weighed down with the toothsome nuts.

We were told by our informant that the filberts were anybody's property; so
when we came to where the trees were heaviest laden we paddled beneath the
bough and soon had picked enough to fill the bows of the canoe. You may
be sure we never wanted for filberts upon the rest of the day's journey.

I pictured with what delight the average schoolboy would have hailed that
nut-grove, especially as the gathering of the nuts from the bank would have
entailed torn clothes, many tumbles, and unlimited scratches.

After passing through lovely country, we arrived at Preston Brook, where
we joined the Duke of Bridgewater Canal (now the property of the Manchester
Ship Canal Company).

Here we decided to stop for tea, after which we once more proceeded on our
way, and after an uneventful paddle, brought our day's journey to a close
at Grappenhall, where we obtained comfortable quarters for the night at a
cottage on the canal side.

Up at six-thirty next morning, and after cleaning out the canoe and
indulging in our morning swim, sat down to a good breakfast, to which
we did ample justice.

Once more afloat, we made good progress towards Manchester, but after about
an hour's paddle it came on to rain in torrents, and continued so until we
reached Cottonopois, which we fetched at about one o'clock. I have always
been given to understand that it does little else but rain at Manchester,
and certainly on this occasion the much-maligned city did not belie its
reputation.

However, we did not trouble ourselves much, about the rain, as we had
mackintoshes and sou'-westers on.

Presenting much the appearance of a pair of ancient mariners in our get-up,
we entered Hulme dockyard, safely berthed our canoe there, and prepared to
spend the next two days with friends in the city.

After passing two very pleasant days, during which we saw all that could
be seen during such a brief stay, we said good-bye to our hospitable
Manchester friends and pushed on towards our destination and in due ti