e satisfactory,
for not a drop of water came in. Plying our paddles, for the wind was
up the stream, and we could not use our sail, we began to make our way
down it. The current being moderate did not help us much, and it
appeared as if we should never reach the mouth. In our eagerness when
chasing the swans we were not aware how far we had gone up. Of course,
we kept our guns ready to shoot any animals we might see on the banks;
but though we caught sight of a few birds among the branches, they were
too far off to afford us a fair chance of killing them.

We saw no traces, either, of Indian encampments, though from the
pleasant character of the country we thought it probable that wood
Indians might have made it their abode. We had just rounded a point,
and were passing under some trees which overshadowed the water, throwing
a dark shade across it, when we saw ahead of us an object moving up
against the current. The darkness prevented us from distinguishing what
it was.

Robin, who had been talking about the tricks of the redskins, and was,
from having lived so long among them, inclined to be suspicious,
declared that they were the plumes of Indians who were lying in wait to
seize our canoe as we got near them.

"They are more likely to have waited on the shore concealed among the
bushes, and to have shot us with their arrows," observed Alick. "I
don't think any Indians would venture to attack us in the water."

Still Robin was not convinced, and Martin was inclined to agree with
him.

"Be ready, then, to fire if necessary," said Alick; "but not till I tell
you. We can easily paddle out of their way, and they'll not venture to
follow us; though I repeat that I feel nearly sure that those are not
Indians. We will push quickly on, and if they are Indians, when they
see that we approach them boldly and have guns ready, they'll keep out
of our way."

Soon after this a gleam of light coming through an opening in the wood
fell on the objects we had been watching, when our apprehensions were
completely dissipated; for we saw that they were coloured ducks, so
busily engaged among a shoal of small fry that they did not observe us.

"Paddle on gently, Robin," said Alick.--"Do you, Martin and David, be
ready to fire at the birds in the water, and we will do so as soon as
they rise."

The current helping us, we rapidly neared the ducks. Martin and I hit
two, and Alick and Robin brought down a brace. Hearing the