THE THOUSAND ISLES. 199 



strength, were, in some, of that dark green, almost black, 

 from which their name is derived; in others it was a 

 light green, and again in others pale yellow. Whence 

 these variations are derived, unless it be from the shade 

 of the ground they live on, to which all fish are said to 

 assimilate, is not known ; but it has often led to their 

 being divided into distinct classes, or mistaken for other 

 species. Their peculiarity of springing out of water is 

 remarkable. Salmon and blue-fish do so frequently, 

 trout rarely, and other fish seldom or never ; but a black 

 bass of any size will invariably make one or more des- 

 perate leaps. It is a glorious sight to see his full length 

 above the water, and a nervous moment till the line that 

 has been slacked is again taughtened by his strain. Such 

 leaps are his most effective means of escape, by enabling 

 him to shake the hook from his mouth or strike the line 

 with his tail ; and, though not so persevering as the trout, 

 generally, at the sight of the net, he makes a final, dan- 

 gerous rush. 



We coasted along by island after island, crossing near 

 one named after " Old Bill Johnston," memorable for 

 having taken an active part in the Canadian rebellion, 

 and long forced to hide from his English pursuers. 

 Johnston's Island, as it is called, was his favorite resort, 

 where he was succored and warned of danger by his 

 beautiful daughter, universally known as the Queen of 

 the Isles. What a theme for the poet or the novelist : 

 the father safe neither on the English shore, where he 

 had waged unjustifiable war, nor among the Americans, 

 who would have been compelled to surrender him, lurk- 

 ing among those beautiful isles, then wilder and more 



