t likely to
let him go. I carried him on shore, and throwing him on the ground,
speedily began to collect sticks to make a fire. Those near at hand
would not burn, so I went further away from the stream to collect some
more.

While thus engaged, I saw a lynx steal out of the forest and go in the
direction of my proposed fire. I had collected as many sticks as I
could carry, and was returning as fast as I could, when I saw the lynx
go close up to where I had left my fish. It stooped down, and then
trotted on. I rushed on, as fast as my legs could carry me, till I
reached the spot. My fish was gone. I shrieked and shouted after the
lynx, whirling my stick at him, but it was to no purpose. He had found
a good breakfast, and was not going to give it up in a hurry. I shouted
and shrieked, and ran and ran, till at length I knocked my foot against
the sharp end of a broken branch which brought me crying out with pain
to the ground. The lynx, holding the fish in his jaws, turned a look of
derision at me, as he disappeared in the forest. Did I lie there and
howl like a wounded dog? No; I should be ashamed to acknowledge it, had
I done so. Instead of that, as soon as the pain would allow me, I got
up on my feet, hobbled back to where I had left my rod, searched for
some fresh bait, and set to work to catch another fish.

Not a minute had passed before I got a bite. I quickly hooked my fish,
and hauled up one of about half a pound weight. As that would not be
sufficient for my breakfast, I thought it would be wise to restrain my
appetite till I had caught some more, as possibly when the sun rose
higher they might not bite so readily. Not half a minute passed before
I caught a second, and in five minutes, with very little difficulty, I
had caught as many fish as would equal the weight of the one I had lost.
This time I took care to keep them about me till I had lighted my fire,
and stuck them on sticks roasting round it. I kept, too, vigilant watch
lest my old enemy, Bruin, or the watchful lynx should return to rob me
of my repast.

One of the fish was soon sufficiently warmed to enable me to eat it, and
one after the other disappeared, giving me a satisfaction which the most
highly seasoned feast has never been able to afford. I washed the fish
down with a copious draught of water, and then felt myself ready for
anything. This part of the river was evidently well supplied with fish,
so before leaving it I aga