Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-14
CHAPTER XIV.
\ Discovery

y Discovery.
l'o; this time nj least Pierre turned
out to be a reliable weather prophet
Before they turned in that night the
temperature had perceptibly sunk sew
eral degrees. moon and stars shene out
with cold, hard hrilliancy; for the first
time Mir Marin Thoroughly appreciated
the warmth of his rabbit skin blanket
Next morning they found that frost
had set in and ii fro2c with ven
goancc. froze over the hole which
Pierre had chopped in the ice yester-
day in search of water; troze the tip of
his nose as he explored Clumps of i'm
pervious bush in search Of drirr fire
wood
Mr., Marin and his son stood on the
edge Of the lake lost in admiration OF
The wondrous and beautiful transtor-
nation scene which bad been prepared
in the night under the stars. The rain
had suddenly frozen as it drippcd from
the trees, incasing them IN Il shining
film of ice, the wide spreading boughs
We're hung with great iCiClCs. the dps
Of the tiniCst twigs were bent with the
weight Of crystal drops that shonc like
diamonds. The lake for miles around
looked as If encirclcd by row on row OF
fantastic crystal cathcdrals of every
size and shape, Ill flashing and spark
ling in the sunlight with brilliant
prismatic light.
What wonderful land OF sun and
snow is this Canada of yours in win
teri, remarked the elder man, With in
enthusiasm that Pleased Alec.
Yes, and what a country in sum
mer, A vast illimitablc land Of som
Der woods. hiding in their green
bosoms countless lakes of fairy like
beauty; land of cvcr-unrollng
prairie. varying and bcwitChng
ocean of color. veritablc Atlantic OF
floral pillows. unimaginablo save by
those who have once eallopcd over
them for weeks and weeks together,
And fruits where will YOU get such
apples, such pears, such plums, such
peaches such grapes as We grow in
Ontario?"
anu 'llIN man - ' Nv S'iII''"
laughed Mr.. Nairn
Yes" assented Alec, with a smile
that's So although even in respect Of
men and womer | guess we can COM
pare fayorably with any country under
The sun,
Come come, | must get you out Of
this land Of enchantmcnt as soon rs
possible, otherwise you will be settling
and marrying some Canadian girl
you are safe to bet on that, re
turned Alec, promptly clapping his
mittcned hands and declaring it was
Not that lie found any fault with the
cold; not he. his only hope was that II
would freeze away and keep on freez
ing until he got safe across Lake Ia
waWChiugWakokok to morrow
But alas, when might again set in a
gray pail overspread the sky, the frost
slackencd the air grew soft and en-
ioyahle light snownakes began to
flicker here and there.
All day they had been out setting
snares for rabbits or following up he
track Of partridge in the snow, meet.
ing with no success.
Better divide this meal we have be
tween tonight and tomorrow morn
ing" suggested Mr.. Marin and Alec
assented, cheerfully. Pierre shrugged
his shoulders and raised his eyebrows
and said as he produced all that was
left of their provisions
1T ees 80 mooch, OH"
Perhaps We may get rabbit or a
partridge tomorrow, said Alec with
The hopefulness Of youth.
For my part, | am not hungry, re-
marked Mr. Marin, indifferently Il
don't think care for much supper
shall have a smoke instead and then
turn in"
Alec was not 70 be outdone in self,
denial
Wen I'll turn in, 100 # you aren't
going 10 eat, neither will T. Perhaps
after All II would Be better 10 fast 10
night and eat In the morning before
VI SCI out
shall We be able to set out tomor
row.
We must . said Alec, decisiyeiy 0.
course. We will Pierre En-"
All ouI We set out. certaine; mais
we're We arrive We set out, We arrive
al ze water. eh 7
why dtd | never learn 10 swim r.
Alec exclaimed. modify
oh well we'll see what tomorrow
brings said Mr.. Marin, with a cheer
fulness that did not deceive either his
son or Pierre
They could no longer conceal from