LAKE SUPERIOR. 65 



blood were encountered. The Namsegoose, on being 

 prepared for the pot, were found to contain spawn 

 well advanced, and were exceedingly fat. 



The dinner being over and the men rested, our 

 slow progress was resumed, and we passed Maple 

 Island Isle aux Arabes into Batchawaung Bay. 

 The sun in his downward course marked out a 

 broad golden path upon the still surface of the lake, 

 vividly recalling to our minds that most exquisite 

 picture in "Hiawatha" of the chieftain's departure 

 for the "land of the Hereafter;" which now had 

 the charm of a peculiar interest, as we were floating 

 upon the very waters where the scene is laid : 



" And the evening sun, descending, 

 Set the clouds on fire with redness ; 

 Burned the broad sky, like a prairie, 

 Left upon the level water 

 One long track and trail of splendor, 

 Down whose stream, as down a river, 

 Westward, westward Hiawatha 

 Sailed into the fiery sunset, 

 Sailed into the purple vapors, 

 Sailed into the dusk of evening." 



Thus dreamily murmured Don, as with his back 

 against our biscuit-barrel, and his feet upon our 

 butter-tub, he gazed upon the dying glories of the 

 orb of day ; and now, as the last glimmering spark 

 sank below the horizon, the strange pale light of 

 the north crept over the sky ; the stillness of death 

 brooded upon land and water, and ephemerae^ issuing 

 from their larva state, burst into winged life and 



