OUTDOORS 



dition and a leaven of dust from their bones 

 deep sunken in the yielding soil. 



The deer and antelope were there then, 

 and the great gray wolf, fast following on 

 their trail. Millions of wild-fowl bred in or 

 frequented the lakes and rivers, and the roar 

 of their wings in the spring and the fall was 

 as the rumble of thunder before a summer 

 shower. The white bulk of swans, the wedge- 

 shaped phalanx of the wild-goose, dotted 

 the heavens in their annual flight, and the 

 darker hordes of brant swept down on the 

 bosom of the waters and gabbled among 

 the reeds of the northern wilderness. The 

 beaver built in the lakes and creeks and 

 the fox prowled among the thickets about 

 the lakes. The prairie-hens rose from the 

 grass in great coveys and sharp-tailed grouse 

 flew over and back from the surrounding 

 hills. The jack-rabbit, quaintest of the deni- 

 zens of the prairie-lands, sat with his long 

 ears extended, listening for the approach of 

 any one of his numerous foes. Game was 

 everywhere. In the lakes amid the dome- 

 shaped mounds the muskallunge, the giant 

 pike, sprang up from the lily-pads or lurked 

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