KTAADN. 
27 
stringent gum or essence it afforded steeped and dis¬ 
solved in it, — a lumberer’s drink, which would acclimate 
and naturalize a man at once, — which would make him 
see green, and, if he slept, dream that he heard the wind 
sough among the pines. Here was a fife, praying to be 
played on, through which we breathed a few tuneful 
strains, —■ brought hither to tame wild beasts. As we 
stood upon the pile of chips by the door, fish-hawks 
were sailing overhead; and here, over Shad Pond, might 
daily be witnessed the tyranny of the bald-eagle over 
that bird. Tom pointed away over the lake to a bald- 
eagle’s nest, which was plainly visible more than a mile 
off, on a pine, high above the surrounding forest, and 
was frequented from year to year by the same pair, and 
held sacred by him. There were these two houses only 
there, his low hut and the eagles’ airy cart-load of fagots. 
Thomas Fowler, too, was persuaded to join us, for two 
men were necessary to manage the batteau, which was 
soon to be our carriage, and these men needed to be cool 
and skilful for the navigation of the Penobscot. Tom’s 
pack was soon made, for he had not far to look for his 
waterman’s boots, and a red-flannel shirt. This is the 
favorite color with lumbermen; and red flannel is re¬ 
puted to possess some mysterious virtues, to be most 
healthful and convenient in respect to perspiration. In 
every gang there will be a large proportion of red birds. 
We took here a poor and leaky batteau, and began to 
pole up the Millinocket two miles, to the elder Fowler’s, 
in order to avoid the Grand Falls of the Penobscot, 
intending to exchange our batteau there for a better. 
The Millinocket is a small, shallow, and sandy stream, 
full of what I took to be lamprey-eels’ or suckers’ nests, 
and lined with musquash cabins, but free from rapids, 
