THE SOUTH TOHigUE LAKES. 
481 
that length 1,000 feet. The water was very high and the stream 
running like a race-horse. Our canoe shot over boulders and turned 
the many windings of the river with a speed that was exhilarating to 
the highest degree. I shall never never forget the joy of that first 
afternoon on the Serpentine, the delight of riding full speed on the 
back of a rapid torrent, racing past little islands covered with Osmun- 
das (O. regalis and O. claytoniana), the tumultuous waters rioting 
among the fronds, whose dainty green contrasted with the darker 
shades of alder and viburnums on the banks. Virgin’s Bower twdned 
gracefully in festoons over shrubs, with Meadow Rue and Joe-Pye 
Weed bending their tall stems over the waters, while on the neai- hill- 
sides beyond were the darker evergreens. It was difficult to take in 
the full beauty of the scene, as each turn of the river brought fresh 
pictures constantly into view. The delights of days like that, with a 
little spice of danger thrown in, linger in the memory for a lifetime. 
I have often since found myself careering in imagination over that 
wild and capricious little river, involuntarily ducking my head to 
escape an overhanging branch, or shying to avoid some dangerous 
boulder as we swept by ; and then as we came into more quiet 
stretches of the river, resting on our paddles and taking in these 
scenes of wildness and beauty. 
T can only briefly refer to two side trips that we made wffiile 
descending the Tobique, — one to Sisson gorge, six miles from the forks 
of the Tobique, and the other to Bald Head mountain, a picture of 
