1 48 Wilderness- Ways. 



my way to the bog, where I could watch Hukweem at 

 my leisure. After a long wait she would steal into the 

 bay very shyly, and after much fear and circumspection 

 glide up to the canoe. It took a great deal of looking 

 and listening to convince her that it was harmless, and 

 that I was not hiding near in the grass. Once con- 

 vinced, however, she would come direct to the nest; 

 and I had the satisfaction at last of watching a loon 

 at close quarters. 



She would sit there for hours — never sleeping 

 apparently, for her eye was always bright — preening 

 herself, turning her head slowly, so as to watch on all 

 sides, snapping now and then at an obtrusive fly, all 

 in utter unconsciousness that I was just behind her, 

 watching every movement. Then, when I had enough, 

 I would steal away along a caribou path, and push off 

 quietly in niy canoe without looking back. She saw 

 me, of course, when I entered the canoe, but not 

 once did she leave the nest. When I reached the 

 open lake, a little searching with my glass always 

 showed me her head there in the grass, still turned 

 in my direction apprehensively. 



I had hoped to see her let the Httle ones out of their 

 hard shell, and see them first take the water; but that 

 was too much to expect. One day I heard them 

 whistling in the eggs; the next day, when i came, 



