the tyrant pelicans standing on the watch for their
finny prey. Swimming birds speckled the surface; various species of
_Anatidae_--swans, geese, and ducks,--while the air was filled with
flights of gulls and curlews, or was cut by the strong whistling wings
of the mallards.

Other than waterfowl had chosen this secluded spot for their favourite
dwelling-place. The osprey could be seen wheeling about in the air, now
shooting down like a star upon the unfortunate fish that had approached
too near the surface, and anon yielding up his prey to the tyrant
_Haliaetus_. Such were the varied forms of feathered creatures that
presented themselves to my eye on entering this lonely lake of the
woods.

I looked with interest upon the scene. It was a true scene of nature,
and made a vivid impression upon me at the moment. Not so with my
companion, to whom it was neither novel nor interesting. It was an old
picture to his eyes, and he saw it from a different point of view. He
did not stay to look at it, but, lightly dipping his paddle, pressed the
pirogue on in the direction of the island.

A few strokes carried us across the open water, and the canoe once more
entered under the shadow of trees. But to my surprise, _there was no
island_! What I had taken for an island was but a single cypress-tree,
that grew upon a spot where the lake was shallow. Its branches
extending on every side were loaded with the hoary parasites that
drooped down to the very surface of the water, and shadowed a space of
half an acre in extent. Its trunk rested upon a base of enormous
dimensions. Huge buttresses flanked it on every side, slanting out into
the water and rising along its stem to a height of many yards, the whole
mass appearing as large as an ordinary cabin. Its sides were indented
with deep bays; and, as we approached under the screen, I could perceive
a dark cavity which showed that this singular "buttock" was hollow
within.

The bow of the pirogue was directed into one of the bays, and soon
struck against the tree. I saw several steps cut into the wood, and
leading to the cavity above. My companion pointed to these steps. The
screaming of the startled birds prevented me from hearing what he said,
but I saw that it was a sign for me to mount upward. I hastened to obey
his direction; and, climbing out of the canoe, sprawled up the sloping
ridge.

At the top was the entrance, just large enough to admit the body of a
man;