34 A GLORIOUS MORNING. 



have torn a hole in the frail side of the canoe, and 

 sent its occupants to the bottom. Neither of the 

 youths, therefore, breathed freely until this portion of 

 the river was left behind, and until they again found 

 themselves floating on quiet water, which reflected the 

 dark shadows of the pines along the banks. 



It was yet early morning, and the sun poured a 

 flood of light upon the forest, which here consisted 

 principally of coniferous trees. A resinous perfume 

 was wafted on the air, extracted from the pines by the 

 warmth of the sun. Ducks sprang with a quack and 

 a rush off each successive reach of the river, as the 

 boat and its occupants became visible". 



Several large birds were observed from time to time 

 over the summits of the trees, but swooped again out 

 of %ht before the boys could obtain a shot. These 

 were bald-headed eagles, no doubt in pursuit of the 

 wild-fowl which abounded on the river. Ospreys cir- 

 cled high in air, eying the water below. Occasionally 

 one would close its wings and shoot downwards with 

 the velocity of an arrow, burying itself amid a cloud 

 of spray in the river, from which it reappeared almost 

 invariably carrying a fish in its talons. Many of these 

 birds were at work along the river ; and that they kill 

 an immense number of fish the party had evidence, as 

 they rarely seemed to make a swoop in vain. Many 

 of them seemed to be fishing to supply their young, 

 as the boys observed several nests in the top branches 

 of pine trees which stood close by the banks of the 



