Lake Umbagog.
1896
Aug. 16
(No 2)
  Landing at Peaslee's spring for my usual supply of water
I had just returned to the canoe when it began to rain.
I got out my rubber coverings, however, and kept on,
paddling as far as the large outer pond when I set
the sail and drifted slowly homeward in a perfect
downpour. By the time I had reached the mouth of
the river, however, the rain ceased and I had my
first opportunity to get a bite of lunch. While thus
engaged I noticed a dozen or more White-bellied Swallows
circling close over the canoe. Presently one alighted on the
end of the gaff, with another on one of the wooden rings
that attach the sail to the gaff and finally an Eave Swallow
joined them. As they sat scarce eight feet above me
preening & drying their feathers after the rain and looking
down at me now and then with an expression of mild
curiosity I could see that they were all young birds.
I carried them along with me for about ¼ of a mile.
Of course the wind was very light & the motion of
the canoe slow & steady, the while.
[margin]Young Swallows
perch on my 
canoe sail.[/margin]