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IN THE LAND OF THE GREAT SPIRIT 121 



the dry grassy plain ran out in a little point right 

 to the water's edge. But right and left of this there 

 lay immense beds of reeds. They enclosed the 

 lake on almost every side, and were in places some- 

 thing like two miles through. These reeds from 

 top to water-line were about the height of a man's 

 head. 



The water, only a few inches in depth at the out- 

 side, grew deeper in the direction of the middle of 

 the lake ; but so gradually that a man might wade 

 for perhaps a mile before the water reached his 

 waist. Enclosed in the reed beds were numerous 

 creeks and stretches of open water, too deep for 

 any growth of reeds. 



To wander then in these reed beds was to wander r^j/rvitJy^ 

 in a water-forest that completely shut out land or 

 sky on any side. Around you reeds and water — 

 the reeds far higher than your head. Directly above 

 you your only bit of sky. 



These reeds were the haunt of innumerable 

 waterfowl, and into these reeds I went one evening 

 to shoot. At first I skirted the edge of the reed 

 beds. There were many things of interest all about. 

 The American bittern skulked there almost until 

 trodden upon. Beetles, allied to our Dyti||cus, flying ;: ' 



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