228 



THE ADIRONDACK. 



like sweet visions along that far-stretching slope of 

 brilliant green, and disappear one after another over 

 the summit. Yonder is a deer walking up and down 

 the shore in the water, ever and anon lifting his ant- 

 lered head, lest the garish day might reveal him to 

 some lurking foe ; and lo, there comes his consort, 

 her w^hite breast shining amid the leaves, as she also 

 steps forth to drink. And here, out of this narrow 

 cove, completely enveloped in bushes that sweep the 

 water, and reeds that grow almost across its entrance 

 — which seems to lurk in perpetual ambush on the 

 shore — a wild duck from the Atlantic is leading forth 

 her brood which she has hatched in this far-seques- 

 tered spot. "What a chattering they make as they 

 swim after the proud matron who is pushing boldly 

 for a point near by. They move in the form of the 

 figure V inverted, and the still water of the cove as- 

 sumes the same shape clear to the shore. But the 

 ever-watchful mother has caught sight of our boat, 

 and prattling to her offspring, is off with incredible 

 speed. She knows her young cannot fly, and hence 

 will not rise herself from the water. True to her 

 m.aternal instinct, she is willing to bide the worst, but 

 both wings and feet of the whole chattering squadron 



