the flood, Peegwish went a-fishing.

That astute Indian was fond of fishing. It suited his tastes and
habits; it was an art which was admirably adapted to his tendencies.
Peegwish was, naturally as well as by training, lazy, and what could be
more congenial to a lazy man than a "gentle art" which involved nothing
more than sitting on a river bank smoking a pipe and awaiting a bite?
It had a spice of intellectuality about it too, for did it not foster a
spirit of meditation, contemplation, and even of philosophical
speculation--when he chanced to be awake? Moreover, it saved him from
harder labour, and shut the mouths of those ill-natured people who
objected to drones, and had a tendency to reproach them, for was he not
assiduously procuring for men and women a portion of that nourishment
without which labour would be impossible?

The peculiar action of the flood had favoured Peegwish in regard to his
beloved art, for, whereas in former days he was obliged to get up from
his lair and go down to the river bank to fish, now he had nothing more
to do than open the window and cast out his line, and Wildcat was close
at hand to fetch him a light when his pipe chanced to go out, which it
frequently did, for the red old savage slept much. When, therefore, we
say that Peegwish went a-fishing, it must be understood that he merely
left his seat by the stove in the upper room at Willow Creek and opened
the window.

Wildcat was as fond of fishing as her brother, but there were a few
difficulties in her way which did not exist in his. Water had to be
drawn, wood to be chopped, moccasins and leggings and coats to be made,
as well as meals to be cooked. She was, therefore, compelled to fish in
moderation.

"Bring a light," said Peegwish, in that tone of mild entreaty with which
he was wont to make his wants known.

There being no one else in the room at the moment, Wildcat obeyed.

Peegwish looked into the room for a moment, and extended his left hand
for the piece of lighted stick; with his right hand he held his line.
Suddenly that hand received an amazing tug. Peegwish unintentionally
scattered the firebrand, dropped his pipe from his lips, and uttered a
shout, while with both hands he held on to the jerking line.

One of Mr Ravenshaw's largest pigs had been swept out of the outhouse
lofts. Struggling with the stream, he passed under the window of the
storeroom, and came across the line of Peegwish with his tail. Eve