274 HILLS AND LAKES. 



and those of the Au Sable, further north and west 

 than the Adirondacks proper. Beyond this range lay 

 the Adirondacks, and dim and shadowy, looming 

 darkly in the haze, are seen Mount Marcy, Mount 

 Seward, and other less notable peaks. These stand 

 away off behind the ridge spoken of, like tall gren- 

 adiers, looking over the front ranks of small combat- 

 ants, overtopping all, save the tall old " white-faced" 

 commander. He stands out always, like Saul among 

 the prophets, from his shoulders upward, taller than 

 his fellows. On one of the islands we found a deer, 

 which Shack coursed at his best speed, twice around 

 the island. The third heat it took to the water, and 

 we put out in our canoe after it, but on overtaking it, 

 we found it to be a doe, the lean condition of which, 

 indicated that it had a fawn to provide for, and we 

 left it unharmed, and turned back. The animal 

 seemed glad enough to part company with us, and we 

 saw it look back as it ascended the bank on the main 

 land ; as if saying, that our absence was vastly more 

 agreeable than our company. 



In the afternoon, having drawn our canoe from 

 the water, and concealed it in a thicket, we bid good- 

 bye to the Saranac lakes, and struck off north-west, 



