IN QUEST OF TREASURE 55 



then go ashore upon some neighbouring isle for the balance of 

 the night. So two stout poles were secured and laid across our 

 two large canoes as they rested about a foot apart and parallel 

 to one another. Then, the poles being lashed to the thwarts, a 

 single "four-point" blanket was rigged horizontally to two 

 masts, one standing in each canoe and both guyed with tump- 

 lines, and leaning away from each other in order to spread the 

 improvised sail. Two canoes so rigged cannot only make good 

 headway, but can with safety run before a very strong wind. 

 While Oo-koo-hoo's canoe was kept free, he nevertheless 

 counted on having it towed, as it could then be cast off without 

 a moment's delay in case of our coming unexpectedly upon 

 tempting game. 



Supper was no sooner over than we were lying lazily in our 

 canoes and, to the music of babbling water and foaming wakes, 

 rushing toward the setting sun. Soon twilight overtook us, 

 and wrapping shadows about us, accompanied us for a while. 

 Next starlight appeared and with myriads of twinkling lanterns 

 showed us our way among the now silhouetted islands. Then 

 the moon uprose and pushed a shiny head through the upper 

 branches of the eastern trees. At first it merely peeped as 

 though to make sure we were not afraid; then it came out 

 boldly in glory and quickly turning our wake into a path of 

 molten gold, began to soar above the forest. 



For a while I could hear the childish prattle of the children 

 and the crooning of Naudin as she hushed, with swaying body, 

 her baby to her breast. 



Then even those gentle sounds died away as the little forms 

 snuggled down beneath the blankets among the dogs and bales. 

 Occasionally a loon called to us, or an owl swooped, ghost-like, 

 overhead, and as we passed among pine-crested isles, those 

 weather-beaten old monarchs just stood there, and whispering 

 to one another, shook their heads as we swept by. 



Then for a few moments a mother moose with her two calves 



