46 SPOPvT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



quietly, so as to get into the stream ; and when we 

 reached that a stroke now and then, quietly pulled, 

 was all that was necessary. 



The surface of the water looked like oil, and 

 whilst the negro and my companion were care- 

 fally examining the space around, my eyes were 

 wandering into the distance, lost in admiration 

 of the panorama around me. Nothing could be 

 grander than the large clumps of fir-trees and 

 dark-foliaged cedars reflecting the silver rays of the 

 moon. Before us lay a lofty mountain, whose steeps 

 disappeared among clumps of privet, wild vines, and 

 dwarf oaks. All round the lake, down to the very 

 margin, the pines and cedars mingled their leafy 

 branches, casting dark shadows on the water, to 

 within fifteen or twenty yards from the brink. To 

 our right, a log cabin, the habitation of some wood- 

 cutter or squatter, displayed through the chinks of 

 an ill-made door a ray of the illumination within, 

 whilst a thin Avreath of white smoke made its escape 

 by a chimney made of a drain-pipe covered with 

 turf. A little island planted all over with pine- 

 trees was on our left. Sandy Hair steered our boat 

 under the shadow of these trees, and made a sign 

 to indicate that the time had arrived for setting 

 Jonathan at liberty. 



Upon this, Reid and I opened the basket, and let 

 the osprey act as he pleased. We could readily 

 guess, by the appearance of the surface of the water. 



