THE HALCYON IN CANADA 213 



disappeared. In a few moments he reappeared a 

 couple of hundred yards away. " Ha-ha- ha-a-a," 

 said he, "ha-ha-ha-a-a," and "ha-ha- ha-a-a," said 

 his comrades, who had been looking on ; and " ha-ha- 

 ha-a-a," said we all, echo included. He approached 

 a second time, but not so closely, and when I began 

 to creep back toward the shore with my heavy craft, 

 pawing the water first upon one side, then the other, 

 he followed, and with ironical laughter witnessed 

 my efforts to stem the current at the head of the 

 lake. I confess it was enough to make a more sol- 

 emn bird than the loon laugh, but it was no fun for 

 me, and generally required my last pound of steam. 



The loons flew back and forth from one lake to 

 the other, and their voices were about the only nota- 

 ble wild sounds to be heard. 



One afternoon, quite unexpectedly, I struck my 

 big fish in the head of the lake. I was first advised 

 of his approach by two or three trout jumping clear 

 from the water to get out of his lordship's way. 

 The water was not deep just there, and he swam so 

 near the surface that his enormous back cut through. 

 With a swirl he swept my fly under and turned. 



My hook was too near home, and my rod too near 

 a perpendicular to strike well. More than that, my 

 presence of mind came near being unhorsed by the 

 sudden apparition of the fish. If I could have had 

 a moment's notice, or if I had not seen the monster, 

 I should have fared better and the fish worse. I 

 struck, but not with enough decision, and, before I 

 could reel up, my empty hook came back. The 



