RIVER LIFE. 179 



paddled with the Indian hunter in his tiny birch over its silver 

 waters, chased wild game through its forest confines, and flung 

 from its transparent depths the delicious trout. Indians affirm 

 that there is in these waters a great fish, " all one big as canoe," 

 a sort of fresh-water whale. 



But it is time to proceed on our down-river trip. So, leaving 

 the outlet of Grand Lake, and passing south about two miles 

 across a " carrying-place," we strike the head of another lake, 

 called Che-pet-na-cook, into which the surplus waters of the for- 

 mer lake pass. The name by which this lake is designated is 

 said to signify hilly pond or lake. In form it is long and nar- 

 row, resembling a deep, massive river. That peculiarity from 

 which its name is derived is strikingly prominent. A range of 

 abrupt and elevated ridges rises suddenly from its western shore, 

 covered with a close, heavy growth of trees, principally Spruce. 

 One peak of the ridge rises several hundred feet from the surface 

 of the lake, which is called " Spruce Mountain." After mid- 

 day, a section of this mountain ridge, so dense and frowning as to 

 resemble a thunder-cloud, casts a cavernous shade, like a misty 

 pall, over the surface of its waters, which seem to lay with pros- 

 trate fear at its base, imparting an oppressive solemnity over the 

 scenery. 



At the foot of this lake, which is between twenty and thirty 

 miles long, the east branch of the St. Croix takes its rise. From 

 this point it passes through a rocky channel for the most part, 

 ion:illy flowing through a section of meadow or intervale 

 land until ii reaches Baring, a distance of some fifty miles, where 

 for the first time it meets with a formidable barrier to its hitherto 

 wild and unrestrained progress in the character of i 

 Passing this through its various avenues, it flows on to sfilltown, 

 which occupies both sides of the river, and includes both the En- 

 glish and American villages. Between this place and the head 

 of ship navigation, some two miles distant, the channel is da?nmcd 



