40 PEPACTON I A SUMMER VOYAGE. 



paddle, and cheered. They kept the race up for a 

 long distance, and I saw them making a fresh spirt 

 as I entered upon the rift and dropped quickly out 

 of sight. I next disturbed an eagle in his medita- 

 tions upon a dead tree-top, and a cat sprang out of 

 some weeds near the foot of the tree. Was he watch- 

 ing for puss, while she was watching for some smaller 

 prey? 



I passed Partridge Island which is or used to 

 be the name of a post-office unwittingly, and en- 

 camped for the night on an island near Hawk's 

 Point. I slept in my boat on the beach, and in the 

 morning my locks were literally wet with the dews 

 of the night, and my blankets too ; so I waited for 

 the sun t ; dry them. As I was gathering drift-wood 

 for a fire, a voice came over from the shadows of the 

 east shore : " Seems to me you lay abed pretty late ! " 



" I call this early," I rejoined, glancing at the sun. 



" Wall, it may be airly in the forenoon, but it 

 ain't very airly in the mornin' ; " a distinction I was 

 forced to admit. Before I had reembarked some 

 cows came down to the shore, and I watched them 

 ford the river to the island. .They did it with great 

 ease and precision. I -was told they will sometimes, 

 during high water, swim over to the islands, striking 

 In well up stream, and swimming diagonally across. 

 At one point some cattle had crossed the river, and 

 evidently got into mischief, for a large dog rushed 

 them down the bank into the current, and worried 

 them all the way over, part of the time swimming 



