n with as many of those same snakes as we could have
caught," observed Mike to me. "They're mighty good ateing, barring the
head and tail. At laste, the Ridskins hold to that notion."

I was, I confess, very thankful that we had not been compelled to eat
the creatures; though I did not know what hunger might have induced me
to do.

As we paddled on, Uncle Mark asked Lily and Dora to sing. They were not
girls to offer excuses, and declare that they were out of voice.

"What shall it be?" said Lily.

"Anything you like," replied Dora; and immediately they commenced a
melody which, although I had heard it before, sounded very sweet on the
calm water.

Reuben and I joined in chorus; and the men, as well they might,
applauded heartily. Then one of them commenced a canoe-song, in which
they all joined. As soon as they ceased, Lily and Dora gave us a third;
and so we went on, singing and paddling over the calm water.

"Och! but it's a sad pity that them Ridskins have got me beautiful
fiddle!" exclaimed Mike. "Would I not have been giving you all a tune!
Sure, if I do not recover it I will be breaking me heart intirely."

He said this in so melancholy and yet comical a tone, that Reuben and I
burst out laughing. We reminded him that our Indian friend had promised
to try and recover his beloved instrument, and by degrees he regained
his spirits.

The weather continued fine, and the water smooth as before. As I gazed
over the vast expanse spread out on our left, I could scarcely fancy
myself navigating an inland lake, small though it was compared to many
in that region. I thought, too, of how it would appear should a storm
arise, and the now tranquil surface be turned into foaming billows by
the furious wind. Our canoe, with sides not much thicker than a few
sheets of brown paper, would have been a frail bark for navigating the
lake under such circumstances.

Evening was approaching, and though we had paddled on all day we could
not as yet see the mouth of the river, near which we intended to camp.
We redoubled our efforts, therefore, to gain it during daylight.

The sun had almost reached the watery horizon to the west, when we
espied a clump of tall trees which marked the spot towards which we were
directing our course. Having rounded a point, we ran into a bay with a
grass-covered shore; and here we were able to land without difficulty.

We unloaded the canoe, and carried our packages up to a grassy spot