ADIRONDAC. 107 



by reflection in the water, presenting a 

 broad, unbroken belt of utter blackness. 

 The effect was quite startling, like some 

 huge conjurer's trick. It seemed as if we 

 had crossed the boundary-line between the 

 real and the imaginary, and this was indeed 

 the land of shadows and of spectres. What 

 magic oar was that the guide wielded, that 

 it could transport me to such a realm ! In- 

 deed, had I not committed some fatal mis- 

 take, and left that trusty servant behind, 

 and had not some wizard of the night stepped 

 into his place ? A slight splashing in-shore 

 broke the spell and caused me to turn ner- 

 vously to the oarsman: "Musquash," said 

 he, and kept straight on. 



Nearing the extreme end of the pond, the 

 boat gently headed around, and silently we 

 glided back into the clasp of that strange 

 orbit. Slight sounds were heard as before, 

 but nothing that indicated the presence of 

 the game we were waiting for ; and we reached 

 the point of departure as innocent of venison 

 as we had set out. 



After an hour's delay, and near midnight, 

 we pushed out again. My vigilance and 

 susceptibility were rather sharpened than 

 dulled by the waiting ; and the features of 



