my taste, and butter-nuts, and hickory-nuts with many other good
things." And here Louis stopped for want of breath to continue his
catalogue of forest dainties.

"Yes, and there are bears, and wolves, and raccoons too, that will eat
us for want of better food," interrupted Hector slyly. "Nay, Katty, do
not shudder, as if you were already in the clutches of a big bear.
Neither bear nor wolf shall make mincemeat of thee, my girl, while
Louis and thy brother are near to wield an axe or a knife in thy
defence."

"Nor catamount spring upon thee, ma belle cousine," added Louis
gallantly, "while thy bold cousin Louis can scare him away."

"Well, now that we know our resources, the next thing is to consider
how we are to obtain them, my dears," said Catharine. "For fishing,
you know, we must have a hook and line, a rod, or a net. Now, where
are these to be met with?"

Louis nodded his head sagaciously. "The line I think I can provide;
the hook is more difficult, but I do not despair even of that. As to
the rod, it can be cut from any slender sapling on the shore. A net,
ma chere, I could make with very little trouble, if I had but a piece
of cloth to sew over a hoop."

Catharine laughed. "You are very ingenious, no doubt, Monsieur Louis;
but where are you to get the cloth and the hoop, and the means of
sewing it on?"

Louis took up the corner of his cousin's apron with a provoking look.