oiling-place, which would be a comfort to the girls, as they need
not be exposed to the weather during the process of sugaring. The two
boys soon cut down some small pines and bass-woods, which they hewed out
into sugar-troughs; Indiana manufactured some rough pails of birch-bark;
and the first favourable day for the work they loaded up a hand-sleigh
with their vessels, and marched forth over the ice to the island, and
tapped the trees they thought could yield sap for their purpose. And
many pleasant days they passed during the sugar-making season. They did
not leave the sugar-bush for good till the commencement of April, when
the sun and wind beginning to unlock the springs that fed the lake, and
to act upon its surface, taught them that it would not long be
prudent to remain on the island. The loud booming sounds that were now
frequently heard of the pent-up air beneath striving to break forth from
its icy prison, were warnings not to be neglected. Openings began
to appear, especially at the entrance of the river, and between the
islands, and opposite to some of the larger creeks; blue streams that
attracted the water-fowl, ducks, and wild geese, that came, guided by
that instinct that never errs, from their abiding-places in far-off
lands; and Indiana knew the signs of the wild birds coming and going
with a certainty that seemed almost marvellous to her simple-minded
companions.

How delightful were the first indications of the coming spring! How
joyously our young Crusoes heard the first tapping of the redheaded
woodpecker, the low, sweet, warbling note of the early song-sparrow, and
twittering chirp of the snow-bird, or that neat quakerly-looking bird,
that comes to cheer us with the news of sunny days and green buds, the
low, tender, whispering note of the chiccadee, flitting among the pines
or in the thick branches of the shore-side trees! The chattering note of
the little striped chitmunk, as it pursued its fellows over the fallen
trees, and the hollow sound of the male partridge heavily striking his
wings against his sides to attract the notice of the female birds--were
among the early spring melodies, for such they seemed to our forest
dwellers, and for such they listened with eager ears, for they told
them--

"That winter, cold winter, was past,
And that spring, lovely spring, was approaching at last."

They watched for the first song of the robin, _[FN: Turdus
miyratorius, or American robin.]_ and the