Travels in a Tree-top 53 



malignancy, as I thought, trees had prostrated 

 themselves and rested just beneath the water's 

 surface, or stood up, with outreached arms, 

 as if defying us. How we passed many a 

 crook and turn I cannot now remember. I 

 was too much occupied with desperately 

 clutching at anything within reach to notice 

 the when" or how," but there still re- 

 mains the delicious sensation of suddenly 

 shooting into smooth water and feeling — 

 brave as a lion. 



For several miles on either side of the 

 stream we had a typical mixed forest. The 

 willow-oak predominated at times, and the 

 delicate foliage, so unlike other oaks, was very 

 beautiful. The leaves appeared translucent in 

 the bright sunlight, fairly sparkled, and once 

 made a splendid background to scarlet tanagers 

 that flashed through them. In this long reach 

 of dense woods there were fewer birds than at 

 our starting-point, or perhaps they held back 

 as we passed. But other life was not want- 

 ing. From many a projecting stump there slid 

 many a turtle into the dark waters, and a mink 

 or musk-rat crossed our bow. Careful search 

 would no doubt have revealed numerous creat- 

 ures, for here was a safe retreat for all the 



5^ 



