ggon to the punt, after
which the waggon went back and the punt went forward, both becoming lost
to sight in the foliage of road and river. Once more the bell of the
Maple Inn sounded loudly, to inform the general public that the hour of
six had arrived, and to summon guests to the early supper. Descending to
the sitting-room, the amateur detective found his friend there, and
escorted him, with much unnecessary formality, to the tea table. The
fish were there, betrayed, even afar off, by their not unpleasant odour,
and there also was an attractive looking ham, flanked by plates of hot
cakes and other evidences of culinary skill on Madame's part. She poured
out a good cup of tea for the table quartette, while Pierre aided in
distributing the solids. The conversation turned on fish, and, as
before, the dominie spoke French to the hostess, while M. Lajeunesse
made the lawyer acquainted with some piscatorial exploits of Mr. Bulky.
Mr. Bulky had once been upset from the canoe, but, unlike Mr. Wilkinson,
he could not swim. The case might have been a very serious one,
destructive to the reputation of L'Erable ("zatta ees maybole in ze
Fraynsh langwitch," the host explained) and of city visits to the Beaver
River.

"How was he saved?" enquired the lawyer.

"He vas save by potting 'is foot to ze bottom," replied the host.

"I've heard of a man putting a stone on his head and walking through a
river under water, but haven't believed it yet," continued Coristine.

"He had not necessity of a stone; 'is head was op; ze rivare vas not so
'igh zan ze jouldares of Meestare Bulky," answered Pierre quite
seriously.

"Then he saved himself?"

"No, sare, 'is foot save 'im; Meestare Bulky 'ave a veray 'eavy foot.
Eef 'is foot hadda been also leetle as ze foot of M'syae, Meestare Bulky
vould 'ave drown."

Madame's sharp ears overheard this conversation while carrying on that
with Wilkinson, and broke in upon her erring spouse:--

"Teh twa, Pierre! c'n'est paw trop poli d'se moquer des pieds d'un bon
pawtron."

"Mez, Angelique, mwa, me moquer, mwa? et de M'syae Bulky? Aw, ma bonne
Angelique, fi donc!" and M. Lajeunesse withdrew from the table,
overwhelmed with the mere suspicion of such foul treachery and base
ingratitude.

Batiste had put out three wooden arm chairs, and a rocker for Madame, on
the verandah, whither the party of the tea table retired. Coristine
asked her permission to smoke, when it appeared that Pierre had been