I12 THE Aroostook Woops. 

course is a shoal place, or bar, out in the lake, from which 
rises out of the water a solitary rock, oval upon its top, with 
a small bit of growth upon it. As they are approaching it, 
a handsome white gull flies to meet them, hovering over their 
heads and then away again, then back, giving its little cry in 
the gull dialect, then circling around, hovers over them, say- 
ing to them plainly, ‘*Go not this way if you please, but 
keep off, as I am trying to lead you.” These pretty, pure 
white gulls are another interesting feature which adds to the 
beautiful picture, besides they being rare with them, are the 
more prized. 
‘Last year there was only one,” said Joe, ‘‘and no doubt 
some idiot shot its mate in mating time. I will bet the 
lemonade, that upon the rock ahead there is a gull’s nest, and 
I never saw one in all my life.” 
Sure enough, before stepping out they could see a low rude 
nest, made of moss, sticks and mud, and in it were three very 
large eggs, nearly as large as hen’s eggs, which surprised 
them much, looking at the size of the bird. The eggs were 
a dark drab color, spotted with black. The birds did not 
make much ado after all at their landing, but both followed 
them closely for a piece after leaving the rock, when the 
female flew back to the nest, the male following the boat, 
often hovering over them with a low cry and flying on ahead 
again, as if still anxious they should be led far from his 
treasures. 
Only a gull’s nest. That’s all, yet they would have 
paddled a mile out of their way rather than have missed see- 
ing this one. An oval, almost bare rock, lying out alone by 
itself in the lake, some eight or ten feet in diameter, nearly 
round, a few bunches of moss growing upon the north side, 
