E SALMON FISHERY.

Next morning, Jack Robinson went out at daybreak to inspect the salmon
fishery.

The river, up which the fish went in thousands, was broad, deep, and
rapid. Its banks were clothed with spruce-fir and dense underwood.
There was little of the picturesque or the beautiful in the scenery. It
was a bleak spot and unattractive.

Two of the four men who conducted the fishery were stationed at the
mouth of the river. The other two attended to the nets about six miles
farther up, at a place where there was a considerable fall terminating
in a long, turbulent rapid.

With his wonted promptitude and energy, Jack began to make himself
master of his position long before the men were stirring. Before Ladoc,
who was superintendent, had lighted his first pipe and strolled down to
the boat to commence the operations of the day, Jack had examined the
nets, the salt boxes, the curing-vats, the fish in pickle, the casks,
and all the other _materiel_ of the fishery, with a critical eye. From
what he saw, he was convinced that Ladoc was not the best manager that
could be desired, and, remembering that Ladoc was a bully, he was
strengthened in an opinion which he had long entertained, namely, that a
bully is never a trustworthy man.

He was in the act of forming this opinion, when Ladoc approached.

"Good morning, Ladoc," said he; "you rise early."

"Oui, sair; mais, you gits up more earlier."

"Yes, I am fond of morning air. The fishery prospers, I see."

"It doos, monsieur," said Ladoc, accepting the remark as a compliment to
himself; "ve have catch fifteen casks already, and they is in most
splendid condition."

"Hum!" ejaculated Jack, with a doubtful look at a cask which was
evidently leaking, "hum! yes, you are getting on pretty well, but--"

Here Jack "hummed" again, and looked pointedly at one of the large vats,
which was also leaking, and around which there was a great deal of salt
that had been scattered carelessly on the ground. Raising big eyes to
the roof of the low shed in which the salt-boxes stood, he touched with
his stick a torn piece of its tarpaulin covering, through which rain had
found its way in bad weather. He "hummed" again, but said nothing, for
he saw that Ladoc was a little disconcerted.

After some minutes Jack turned to his companion with a bland smile, and
said--

"The next station is--how many miles did you say?"

"Six, monsieur."

"Ah, six! well, let us go up and se