
          1036

As we passed the swamp Mr. W. spied an owl.  It was quite a large 
one, perched on a tall dead tree stump.  The swamp looked pretty and
if the descent to it had not been so very steep we would have descended
and made an investigation.  As it was Mr. W. thought he would
descend and see the owl.  As he descended, however, and while we were
not looking at it, it flew away.  He, therefore, came up again and
we went onward to the river and the bridge.  In the little house
near the semaphore lives the night watchman, Mr. Stinchcomb.

We spoke to Mrs. S. we hoped to learn a little of the immediate neighborhood
from her, but she seemed to know very little.  She told us
she had only recently come to the place.  A small pier is being built
to the bridge.  She told us it would be used during the summer,
a steamer was to run from it to South River.  The large county
bridge could be seen not far away, so also the large buildings of
the Naval Academy, and the cupola of the State House.  We were very
much pleased with the place and shall visit it again during the spring
and summer.  It was noon, so we decided to return and find a suitable
place for our camp.  This we did <s>it</s> in the woods immediately before
reaching W.  To secure water for coffee, we melted snow.  In melting the 
snow we noticed that as it melted it appeared tinged with yellow.
        