I14 THe Aroostook Woops. 


with a small bunch of hard-hack and three small dwarfed 
spruces the only protection from the northerly winds. Upon 
the highest part of the rock, in the center, the very rude nest 
and the three odd colored eggs is kept warm while the mother 
bird is away by the sun warming up the granite, and at 
night and morning, cold days and rainy ones, by the mother 
bird. Respected by the loons as they wish no such place for 
themselves when they can find the hidden chances, as close as 
this to the water. 
As they homeward to the landing drift slowly along, Joe 
again 1s switching in afew clean silvery trout. ‘* Those little 
choice ones,” he says, and Cronie is pleased to hear him 
expatiate again, and often. 
May 30th. The last morning of the trip; the alarm of the 
clock goes off with a whiz and a whir—r— 
‘¢ What do you say, Joe, it’s three o’clock.” 
‘¢ All right, Cronie, if we go over upon the other side and 
get to sleep again I fear we will be rather late at white water 
taSece 
The coffee is soon steaming, some thin slices of Swift’s 
bacon are approaching too near a crisp point and are set off 
upon the stove hearth; these having already scented the 
camp porch, as the door stands wide open, are attracting the 
birds and squirrels as usual. Bobby, the thief, is chased in 
over the door stool by one of his big brothers and sits upon 
his stumpy tail and haunches holding up his hands and eyeing 
Joe wonderingly as he listens to his lively ‘‘tin tintilations” (?) 
made with a tin tea spoon and a half pint dipper (Joe was 
beating an egg for to-morrow morning’s coffee) but he skips 
out again lively as Joe shies his slipper toward him, not stop- 
ping until he regains the roof, where he barks and chatters 
