162 LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY 



And so on. The intent seems to be to personify 

 the fearful cold that overtakes and benumbs the trav- 

 eler in the great Canadian forests in winter. This 

 stanza brings out the silence or desolation of the 

 scene very effectively, — a scene without sound or 

 motion : — 



" ' Save the wailing of the moose-bird 

 With a plaintive note and low; 

 And the skating of the red leaf 

 Upon the frozen snow.* 



" The rest of the poem runs thus : — 



" * And said I, Though dark is falling, 

 And far the camp must be, 

 Yet my heart it would be lightsome 

 If I had but company. 



** * And then I sang and shouted, 

 Keeping measure as I sped, 

 To the harp-twang of the snow-sho& 

 As it sprang beneath my tread. 



" * Nor far into the valley 



Had I dipped upon my way, 

 When a dusky figure joined me 

 In a capuchin of gray, 



" ' Bending upon the snow-shoes 

 With a long and limber stride*, 

 And I hailed the dusky stranger, 

 As we traveled side by side. 



"'But no token of communion 

 Gave he by word or look, 

 And the fear-chill fell upon me ] 

 At the crossing of the brook. 



*' * For I saw by the sickly moonlight, 

 As I followed, bending low, 

 That the walking of the stranger 

 Left no foot-marks on the snow. 



