in the study of mind, know that it is not
only the mind of a romantic boy that does this, but that the mind of man
generally is, when left to itself, the veriest acrobat, the most
unaccountable harlequin, that ever leaped across the stage of fancy.

Roy's mind was now in the clouds, now on the earth. Anon it was away in
the far-off wilderness, or scampering through the settlements, and
presently it was deep down in Silver Lake playing with the fish. Roy
himself muttered a word or so, now and then, as he walked along, which
gave indication of the whereabouts of his mind at the time.

"Capital fun," said he, "only it won't do to stay too long. Poor
mother, how she'll be wearin' for us! Hallo! ducks, you're noisy coons,
wonder why you get up with such a bang. Bang! that reminds me of the
gun. No more banging of you, old chap, if my hand keeps in so well with
the bow. Eh! duck, what's wrong?"

This latter question was addressed to a small duck which seemed in an
anxious state of mind, to judge from its motions. Presently a head, as
if of a fish, broke the surface of the lake, and the duck disappeared!

"Oh the villain," exclaimed Roy, "a fish has bolted him!"

After this the lad walked on in silence, looking at the ground, and
evidently pondering deeply.

"Nelly," said he, entering the hut and throwing the grouse at her feet,
"here is dinner, supper, and breakfast for you, and please get the first
ready as fast as you can, for I'm famishing."

"Oh, how nice! how did you get them?"

"I'll tell you presently, but my head's full of a notion about catching
ducks just now."

"Catching ducks, Roy, what is the notion?"

"Never mind, Nelly, I han't scratched it out o' my brain yet, but I'll
tell 'ee after dinner, and we'll try the plan to-morrow mornin'."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. The author has himself, in the backwoods, taken four birds in
succession off a tree in this fashion with a fowling-piece.

CHAPTER NINE.

FISHING EXTRAORDINARY.

Early on the following morning, Roy and Nelly rose to try the new style
of duck-hunting which the former had devised.

"I wonder if it will do," said the little girl, as she tripped along by
her brother's side in the direction of a marshy bay, which had been
selected as the scene of their experiments. "How clever of you to
invent such a funny plan!"

"Well, I didn't exactly invent it, lass. The fact is, th