The Submerged Tenth 



which made me contident that on the other lake 

 the Loons had ah'eadv hatched their young. 



What could be wetter than the surroundings ot 

 this most amphibious creature, out there a couple ot 

 rods from shore in three or four feet ot water, espe- 

 cially in that downpour, and with the lake rising so as 

 almost to lap over on the egg ! And there, up near 

 the end ot the lake, were both the Loons together, 

 submerged., as usual — all but head and neck and a 

 little strip of the back — engaged, no doubt, in 

 family consultation. From them came now and 

 then — it seenied to me rather inappropriately — the 

 wild, quavering note, which, though it resembled a 

 laugh, sprung from very different sentiments. I 

 imitated the note, and they answered back. What- 

 ever their meaning, my note was ot genuine 

 laughter, for I felt that the laugh was properly on 

 my side. 



49 



