84 Wilderness Ways. 



frogs scatter to the lily pads again, all swimming 

 as if in a trance, dipping their heads under water 

 to wash the light from their bewildered eyes. 



They were quite fearless, almost senseless, at such 

 times. I would stretch out my hand from the shadow, 

 pick up an unresisting frog that threatened too soon 

 to climb onto the float, and examine him at leisure. 

 But Chigwooltz is wedded to his idols; the moment 

 I released him he would go, fast as his legs could 

 carry him, to put his elbows on the float and stare at 

 the light again. 



Among the frogs, and especially among the toads, 

 as among most wild animals, certain individuals attach 

 themselves strongly to man, drawn doubtless by some 

 unknown but no less strongly felt attraction. It was 

 so there in the wilderness. The first morning after 

 our arrival at the birch grove I was down at the 

 shore, preparing a trout for baking in the ashes, when 

 Chigwooltz, of the ear drums, biggest of all the frogs, 

 came from among the lily pads. He had lost all fear 

 apparently ; he swam directly up to me, touching my 

 hands with his nose, and even crawling out to my feet 

 in the greatest curiosity. 



After that he took up his abode near the foot of the 

 game path. I had only to splash the water there with 

 my finger when he would come from beside a green 



