with
godliness, is great gain." Billie did not announce his belief in this
truth, but he proclaimed it unwittingly by the more powerful force of
example.

Breakfast is a pleasant meal at any time if the operator be hungry, but
who shall describe the delights of breakfast when eaten in company with
several thousand wild-fowl, in a romantic wilderness with fresh air
laden with the perfumes of the vegetable kingdom encircling the person;
the glorious sunshine dazzling the eyes; the sweet songs of animated
nature thrilling the ears, and the gentle solicitations of an expectant
appetite craving within? Words are wasted in such an effort. We feel
constrained to leave it--as we have not seldom left many a thing before
now--to the reader's more or less vivid imagination.

A blazing fire of pine-logs boiled two tin kettles and roasted two fat
wild-ducks. In one of the kettles Archie compounded and stirred
robbiboo--of which, perhaps, the less said the better. In the other,
Billie infused a small quantity of tea. The roasting ducks--split open,
impaled on sticks and set up before the fire--looked after themselves
till they began to burn, when they were turned by Archie and again
neglected for a few minutes.

It was a glorious meal in all respects, and even Billie, whose appetite
was moderately strong, enjoyed it immensely--none the less that he had
asked a blessing on it before beginning, and all the more that he
sympathised fully with his brother in his possession of an amazing--a
shamelessly robust--capacity for food.

"Now, we'll go to work," remarked Archie, wiping his mouth with a sigh
of contentment, (he had nothing else to wipe it with!) after finishing
the last spoonful of robbiboo, the last limb of duck and the last mug of
tea.

Such a remark at such a period in the entertainment caused Billie to
laugh.

"Why, Archie, you've been at work this half-hour, and there's nothing
left to go to work upon now."

"You know quite well, Little Bill, that I refer to the _day's_ work.
What is it to be? Provisions must be got if the camp is not to starve,
and you and I are bound to do our share. Shall we go to Willow Point
and shoot ducks and geese, or cross the lake and trawl for fish?"

"Both," answered the invalid with decision. "We'll do both. We will
paddle to Willow Point, and try for jack-fish on the way."

"Just so--the very thing, Little Bill. Are you ready to start?"

Billie professed himself quite rea