178 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



joined ; but they never presumed to be quite equal to 

 Mike, — for his bodily prowess, as well as his rifle, were 

 acknowledged to be unsurpassed. These displays of 

 animal spirits generally ended in boxing and wrestling- 

 matches, in which falls were received, and blows struck 

 without being noticed, that would have destroyed com- 

 mon men. 



Occasionally, angry words and blows were exchanged, 

 but, like the summer storm, the cloud that emitted the 

 lightning also purified the air ; and when the commotion 

 ceased, the combatants immediately made friends, and 

 became more attached to each other than before the 

 cause that interrupted the good feelings occurred. 

 Such were the conversation and amusements of the 

 evening when the boat was moored under the blufi's we 

 have alluded to. 



As night wore on, one by one, the hardy boatmen 

 fell asleep, some in its confined interior, and others, pro- 

 tected by a light covering in the open air. 



The moon arose in beautiful majesty; her silver 

 light, behind the highlands, gave them a power and 

 theatrical effect as it ascended ; and as its silver rays 

 grew perpendicular, they kissed gently the summit of 

 the hills, and poured down their full light upon the 

 boat, with almost noonday brilliancy. The silence with 

 which the beautiful changes of darkness and light were 

 produced, made it mysterious. It seemed as if some 

 creative power was at work, bringing form and life out 

 of darkness. 



