of 



before it went ashore on the bank of the river or 

 landed upon some romantic island to sprout and 

 grow. Seeds often are carried by rivers and then 

 successfully planted, after many stops and ad- 

 vances, far from the parent tree. 



The log hesitated as it approached the sand- 

 bar, as if cautiously smelling with its big, rooty 

 nose; but at last it swung round broadside, and 

 sleepily allowed the current to put it to bed 

 upon the sand. As a tree, this log had lived on 

 the banks of the Mississippi or one of its tribu- 

 taries, in Minnesota. While standing it had for 

 a time served as a woodpecker home. In one of 

 the larger excavations made by these birds, I 

 found some white pine cones and other seeds 

 from the north that had been stored by bird or 

 squirrel. A long voyage these seeds had taken; 

 they may have continued the journey, landing 

 at last to grow in sunny Tennessee ; or they may 

 have sunk to the bottom of the river or even 

 have perished in the salt waters of the Gulf. 



In climbing up the steep hillside above the 

 river, I found many nests of hickory and walnuts 

 against the upper side of fallen logs. Upon the 



294 



