the exact counterparts of Elsie Ravenshaw, but he checked
himself and said that they were all honest, sincere, kind, gentle,
upright, and that there was not a single cynical person there, nor a--

"Hush! what sort of a bird is that?" interrupted Victor, laying his hand
on Ian's arm and pointing to a small patch of reeds in the lake.

There were so many birds of various kinds gambolling on the surface,
that Ian had difficulty in distinguishing the creature referred to. At
last he perceived it, a curious fat-bodied little bird with a pair of
preposterously long legs, which stood eyeing its companions as if in
contemplative pity.

"I know it not," said Ian; "never saw it before."

"We'll bag it now. Stand back," said Victor, raising his gun.

The above conversation had been carried on in a low tone, for the
friends were still concealed by a bush from the various and numerous
birds which disported themselves on the lake in fancied security and
real felicity.

The crash of Victor's gun sent them screaming over the tree-tops--all
save the fat creature with the long legs, which now lay dead on the
water.

"Go in for it, Rollin, it's not deep, I think," said Victor.

"Troo, but it may be dangeroose for all dat," replied the half-breed,
leaning his gun against a tree. "Howsomewhatever I vill try!"

The place turned out, as he had suspected, to be somewhat treacherous,
with a floating bottom. Before he had waded half way to the dead bird
the ground began to sink under him. Presently he threw up his arms,
went right down, and disappeared.

Both Ian and Victor started forward with the intention of plunging into
the water, but they had not reached the edge when Rollin reappeared,
blowing like a grampus. They soon saw that he could swim, and allowed
him to scramble ashore.

This misadventure did not prevent them from making further attempts to
secure the bird, which Victor, having some sort of naturalistic
propensities, was eager to possess. It was on going round the margin of
the lake for this purpose that they came upon the cause of the
perplexities before mentioned. On the other side of a point covered
with thick bush they came upon the remains of a large Indian camp, which
had evidently been occupied very recently. Indeed, the ashes of some of
the fires, Rollin declared, were still warm; but it was probably
Rollin's imagination which warmed them. It was found, too, that the
trail of Petawanaquat entered thi