THE CANADA GOOSE 259 



ing oar, fainter than ever from our pilot's 

 greater care as he moves it to and fro. Flat 

 on your back you lie with your face turned sky- 

 ward and wonder if the geese can't hear your 

 heart, throbbing, as it seems to you, like an 

 engine. You can bear it no longer. ''How 

 far?" you ask. ''Keep still! About a hun- 

 dred yards," the answer comes back in a sub- 

 dued whisper, and again your pulses renew 

 their dance. "They're swimming again. 

 Confound that gander!" (Let us change a 

 word here for good reasons; the remark need 

 not be rendered literally, but the toiler is 

 scarcely to blame for a trifle of impatience.) 

 "He's been over the route before." A mo- 

 ment later — "We're gaining a bit again. If 

 my wrist holds out and we can get twenty yards 

 nearer we can chance it. When I touch you sit 

 up and take the three together on the left — 

 the left, mind you. I will take care of those on 

 the right." Again only the gentle motion of 

 the boat and you could never tell that you were 

 moving, for every landmark is hidden, — only a 

 white gull far-wheeling in the blue and change- 

 less expanse above to look at. The warm sun 

 shines down into your face ; you close your eyes 



