THE DROWNED LANDS. 209 



in plainer garments, and from day to day new arrivals 

 among migratory tribes of the air would recall tie mind 

 to those northern hills where the jagged pine and 

 lichened rock were already grey with the first flurry of 

 snow. "We were all standing one morning at the " creak 

 o' day," on the island, watching the first effects of the 

 sun before its rising, and noting the little indications of 

 the progress nature had made during the night. Thus 

 travellers at sea will come forth early in the morning, and 

 for a few minutes scan the ocean and the ship, and note 

 the bearings and the winds before they turn to the regu- 

 lar thoughts and occupations of the day. 



" See those ducks coming ? said Jackson. 



"Where?" 



" Close by the main land, low down." 



" Yes ! they are coming this way, too." 



" Teal," said Mike. 



" How do you know that, Mike, have you seen that 

 flock before ?" asked the Doctor. 



" By their flyin' ; you couldn't throw a picayune 

 edgewise through the flock." 



The compact body of birds that seemed when first in 

 view a fleck on the red sky, gradually extended in size 

 until they swept high over our heads, with a sound like 

 a strong wind in a pine wood, keeping well toward the 

 outer side of the island. 



" Jist think of them air critters bein' hatched among 

 the icebergs !" 



" But think of their all going back again next spring 



