THE ANDROSCOGAN RIVER. 339 



Our nondescript boat now appears to head direct on 

 shore, and so we advance till, when within a few 

 yards of the rocks, the helm is put hard down, and we 

 quickly turn to the left and enter the Androscogan, up 

 whose waters a most charming vista is beheld, the 

 drooping limbs of the trees on either side playfully 

 kissing the rippling stream, and the irregularly formed 

 rocks splitting the water, and diverting its course in 

 tangent lines, making many a miniature whirlpool 

 or gurgling eddy, the haunt and breeding-place of 

 innumerable trout. If the river is sufficiently high 

 you will be able to proceed, without leaving the steam- 

 boat, as far as the commencement of the portage ; but, 

 should it be otherwise, your baggage and self will 

 require to be transferred to boats, to be propelled up 

 stream by pole and paddle in the skilful hands of some 

 of the proficient backwoodsmen. 



The trip up the river is worthy all the distance you 

 have wandered. The view is ever changing and ever 

 beautiful: now you float over some still, dark pool; 

 next, with laborious and slow progress, ascend some 

 seething rapid ; one time the centre of the stream only 

 is navigable, the next moment the brush and branches 

 on the margin grate against your craft's gunwale. A 

 solemn stillness reigns around, only broken by the 

 murmuring of the water, the occasional shrill cry of 

 the fish hawk, or the laborious, incessant hammering 

 of the industrious woodpecker. Again, as you ad- 

 vance, many a wild duck or merganser, on rapid wing, 

 will whistle past, or flutter over the rippling stream, 

 followed by a numerous, inoffensive brood, perhaps 

 but the other day divested of the egg-shell, yet, thus 

 early, proficient in aquatic travel all adding peace 



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