40 PEPACTON: A SUMMER VOYAGE. 



paddle, and cheered. They kept the race up for a 

 long distance, and I saw them making a fresh spirt 

 as I entered upon the rift and dropped quickly out 

 of sight. I next disturbed an eagle in his medita- 

 tions upon a dead tree-top, and a cat sprang out oi 

 some weeds near the foot of the tree. Was he watch- 

 ing for puss, while she was watching for some smaller 

 prey? 



I passed Partridge Island which is or used to 

 be the name of a post-office unwittingly, and en- 

 camped for the night on an island near Hawk's 

 Point. I slept in my boat on the beach, and in the 

 morning my locks were literally wet with the dews 

 of the night, and my blankets too ; so I waited for 

 the sun to dry them. As I was gathering drift-wood 

 for a fire, a voice came over from the shadows of the 

 east shore : " Seems to me you lay abed pretty late ! " 



" I call this early," I rejoined, glancing at the sun. 



" Wall, it may be airly in the forenoon, but it 

 ain't very airly in the mornin' ; " a distinction I was 

 forced to admit. Before I had reembarked some 

 cows came down to the shore, and I watched them 

 ford the river to the island. They did it with great 

 ease and precision. I was told they will sometimes, 

 during high water, swim over to the islands, striking 

 m well up stream, and swimming diagonally across. 

 At one point some cattle had crossed the river, and 

 evidently got into mischief, for a large dog rushed 

 them down the bank into the current, and worried 

 them all the way over, part of the time swimming 



