A Dvucx or a Morner. 291 
with a very thin apology for a forest, the close thicket of 
birch and poplar which bordered the river, and the numer- 
ous shoots of a wide river of pellucid waters, in which none 
but the highest styles of game-fish found a residence, a duck 
shot out from the shore with a little brood of over a dozen 
following her. I told Duncan—my guide and gatter—to 
slacken the speed of the canoe. I was interested in this duck 
of a mother with a numerous brood. Her anxiety was ex- 
citing. For an instant she would turn toward her brood and 
urge them with the most impressive gestures to quack-qua- 
qua-ka-qua-qua-ka-ka, and then she would tum from them 
and swim toward the middle of the river in utmost speed ; 
but, bethinking herself, she would turn again and find the 
little ducks a great way behind. Then she would swim back’ 
toward them, and qua-qua-qua-ka-ka-ka until the little things, 
beginning to realize their critical situation, would use their 
wings as well as their feet, and make many shell-drake splut- 
tering demonstrations, until, by the numerous turns of the 
mother, her emphatic quacking calls, and their own exertions, 
they gained the opposite shore of the river, and we acceler- 
ated our speed. But we had not proceeded far before we 
ran against a rock, and broke a hole in the bow of our bark 
canoe that made us land and unship cargo. <A fire, by the 
means of birch bark, which is the most ignitable substance 
in the forest, heated some pitch, and with a piece of cotton 
cloth six inches square, the hole was patched and pitched so 
as to render it water-tight and as good as new. In the mean 
time our friends overtook us, and we discussed the “ cussed” 
hard traveling. My friend was on the point of musically ex- 
claiming, “ Oh, carry me back!” but we changed it into the 
following voluntary ; 
‘Twixt you and I, I almost think 
It’s almost time to take a drink, 
For we’re all nearly home.” 
We agreed with him, and, after imbibing a glass of sherry, 
once more started to admire the beauties of the water, for 
