AFTERNOON. 153 



he calculated that, that day or the next, they would 

 be at the outlet. He not having returned, I thought 

 in the afternoon I would row down and find him. I 

 had some thirteen miles to go, and unfortunately, 

 neither of the two young men with me could handle 

 the oars or steer, so I stripped to the task. Luckily, 

 however, there was a strong gale blowing down the 

 lake, and I landed on an island and cut a bush, which 

 I hung over with pocket handerchiefs to make it hold 

 the wind, and then set it upright in the centre of the 

 boat as a mainsail. The breeze was strong and steady, 

 and worked admirably. Far away to the south- 

 west, the golden sky shone in brilliant colors, and 

 over its illuminated depths the fragmentary clouds 

 went trooping as if joyous with life, while to the 

 northwest, towards which our frail craft was driving, 

 the heavens were black as midnight, and the retir- 

 ing storm-cloud looked dark and fierce — retreating, 

 though still unconquered. The sun was hastening to 

 the ridge of the sky-seeking mountains, and his de- 

 parting beams threw in still deeper contrast the black 

 masses that curtained in the eastern heavens. Bat 

 still the waves kept dancing in the light, as if deter- 

 mined not to be frowned out of their frolic, and it was 



