148 Wilderness Ways. 



my way to the bog, where I could watch Hukweem at 

 my leisure. After a long wait she would steal into the 

 bay very shyly, and after much fear and circumspection 

 glide up to the canoe. It took a great deal of looking 

 and listening to convince her that it was harmless, and 

 that I was not hiding near in the grass. Once con- 

 vinced, however, she would come direct to the nest ; 

 and I had the satisfaction at last of watching a loon 

 at close quarters. 



She would sit there for hours never sleeping 

 apparently, for her eye was always bright preening 

 herself, turning her head slowly, so as to watch on all 

 sides, snapping now and then at an obtrusive fly, all 

 in utter unconsciousness that I was just behind her, 

 watching every movement. Then, when I had enough, 

 I would steal away along a caribou path, and push off 

 quietly in my canoe without looking back. She saw 

 me, of course, when I entered the canoe, but not 

 once did she leave the nest. When I reached the 

 open lake, a little searching with my glass always 

 showed me her head there in the grass, still turned 

 in my direction apprehensively. 



I had hoped to see her let the little ones out of their 

 hard shell, and see them first take the water; but that 

 was too much to expect. One day I heard them 

 whistling in the eggs; the next day, when I came, 



