148 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



I ran my boat into this little bay. The moon, the 

 lake, the mountains, all looked as they do at 

 this moment. Against this very rock I built my 

 fire, and, being tired, quickly dropped to sleep. I 

 lay that night in the same position in which you 

 are now lying. How long I had been sleeping I 

 do not know, when a low, uneasy whine from my 

 hound, and his nose rubbing against my face, 

 aroused me. Thinking that some wild animal 

 had approached the camp, I seized my rifle and 

 peered steadily into the forest. Not a twig 

 snapped. Twice did the dog walk around the 

 fire, lift his nose into the air, and whine. I did not 

 know what to make of it. I was about to order 

 him to be quiet, when he started to his feet, took a 

 step toward the lake, and then crouched, shivering, 

 to the ground. Quick as thought I turned, and 

 there, Mr. Murray," said John, speaking in a low 

 but steady voice, and pointing with his brawny 

 hand toward the east, " there, just rounding that 

 point, I saw a sight which made my blood curdle. 

 A boat, or what seemed to be a boat, was there, — 

 a birch canoe, curved up at either end, — and in it 

 sat a girl, or what seemed a girl, all clothed in 

 white, and airy as a cloud. In her hand she grasped 

 a paddle, and 'her head was turned as in the atti- 

 tude of listening. Up to the very margin of the 

 water the canoe came, and twice did that face, or 

 what seemed a face, look steadily into mine. Then, 



I 



