ur pine-knots in
the frying-pan. The blaze refracted from the concave and blackened
surface of the bark, cast a brilliant light over the semicircle ahead of
us, at the same time that we, behind the screen of birch-bark, were hid
in utter darkness. I had heard that the swans, instead of being
frightened by torch-light, only became amazed, and even at times curious
enough to approach it, just as the deer and some other animals do. This
proved to be correct, as we had very soon a practical illustration of
it.

"We had not gone a mile down the river when we observed several white
objects within the circle of our light; and paddling a little nearer, we
saw that they were swans. We could distinguish their long, upright
necks; and saw that they had given up feeding, and were gazing with
wonder at the odd object that was approaching them.

"There were five of them in the flock; and I directed my servant to
paddle towards that which seemed nearest, and to use his oar with as
much silence as possible. At the same time I looked to the caps of my
double-barrelled gun.

"The swans for a time remained perfectly motionless, sitting high in the
water, with their long necks raised far above the surface. They
appeared to be more affected by surprise than fear.

"When we had got within about a hundred yards of them, I saw that they
began to move about, and close in to one another; at the same time was
heard proceeding from them a strange sound resembling very much the
whistle of the fallow deer. I had heard of the singing of the swan, as
a prelude to its death, and I hoped that which now reached my ears was a
similar foreboding.

"In order to make it so, I leaned forward, levelled my double-barrel--
both barrels being cocked--and waited the _moment_.

"The birds had `clumped' together, until their long serpent-like necks
crossed each other. A few more noiseless strokes of the paddle brought
me within reach, and aiming for the heads of three that `lined,' I
pulled both triggers at once.

"The immense recoil flung me back, and the smoke for a moment prevented
us from seeing the effect.

"As soon as it had been wafted aside, our eyes were feasted by the sight
of two large white objects floating down the current, while a third,
evidently wounded, struggled along the surface, and beating the water
into foam with its broad wings.

"The remaining two had risen high into the air, and were heard uttering
their loud trumpet-note