a stately theater it made,
Spreading itself into a spacious plain,
And in the midst a little river played
Amongst the pumy stones which seemed to 'plain
With gentle murmur that his course they did restrain.

--_Spenser_.

The next morning Ishmael Worth went down to the shore, carrying' a
spy-glass to look out for the "Canvas Back." There was no certainty
about the passing of these sailing packets; a dead calm or a head wind
might delay them for days and even weeks; but on this occasion there was
no disappointment and no delay, the wind had been fair and the little
schooner was seen flying before it up the river. Ishmael seated himself
upon the shore and drew a book from his pocket to study while he waited
for the arrival of the schooner. In less than an hour she dropped anchor
opposite the landing, and sent off a large boat laden with boxes, and
rowed by four stout seamen. As they reached the sands Ishmael blew a
horn to warn Reuben Gray of their arrival.

Three or four times the boat went back and forth between the schooner
and the shore, each time bringing a heavy load. By the time the last
load was brought and deposited upon the beach, Reuben Gray arrived at
the spot with his team. The sailors received a small gratuity from Gray
and returned to the schooner, which immediately raised anchor and
continued her way up the river.

Ishmael, Reuben, and Sam, the teamster, loaded the wagon with the boxes
and set out for Tanglewood, Sam driving the team, Ishmael and Reuben
walking beside it.

Through all the fertile and highly cultivated fields that lay along the
banks of the river they went, until they reached the borders of the
forest, where Reuben's cottage stood. They did not pause here, but
passed it and entered the forest. What a forest it was! They had
scarcely entered it when they became so buried in shade that they might
have imagined themselves a thousand miles deep in some primeval
wilderness, where never the foot of man had trod. The road along which
they went was grass-grown. The trees, which grew to an enormous size and
gigantic height, interwove their branches thickly overhead. Sometimes
these branches intermingled so low that they grazed the top of the wagon
as it passed, while men and horses had to bow their heads.

"Why isn't this road cleared, Uncle Reuben?" inquired Ishmael.

"Because it is as much as a man's place is worth to touch a tree in this
forest, Ishmael," replied Reuben.

"B