20 OUT TO LAKE ILE A LA CROSSE 



trunks stood like grave marks or sentinels in 

 their appointed places. 



During our progress through the lake plentiful 

 bird-life had been observed, and the woods were 

 filled with little songs and call-notes of the 

 feathered tribes that were daily coming in from 

 the distant south to mate in their northern 

 home. All of the common species I left un- 

 molested, but secured four of the rarer types for 

 which I had come : an Osprey, Wilson's Phala- 

 rope, and two Dowitchers. 



Demonstrating the wonderful instinct that 

 leads to the reappearance of bird-life in the 

 North almost at the exact hour of vital change 

 of season, a pair of Eared Grebes and a Loon 

 (Great Northern Diver) were seen on Crooked 

 Lake on May 12, when the lake had only yet a 

 very small area of open water. They were 

 kindred spirits in eagerness to be up and away 

 with the first breath of spring. 



On the evening of the second day out we had 

 reached and entered the head of Crooked River. 

 Here we camped for the night, emptying the 

 canoe of her cargo and lifting her out of the 

 water in case flood might rise overnight and 

 damage her. Then we ate our evening meal, 

 and rested, for the two long days of paddling, 

 and kneeling in the canoe bottom, had found 

 out unused muscles, and made us aware that we 

 were not yet hardened to it. 



And it was good to lie there idly and rest. The 

 day had been glorious — spring almost breaking 

 to summer ; and we were satisfied now that the 

 weather would cause us no further delay. 



