ably knot itself
around the most inaccessible twig. The _Flat-iron_, too, seemed to
rejoice in his discomfiture; and at every interruption of her progress
took the occasion, in spite of Natalie's paddle, to turn about and stick
her nose stupidly into the mud of the bank. Every bush in turn offered
a different and more complicated obstacle than the last; in three hours
they made perhaps twice three hundred yards. Natalie, alarmed by the
spectacle of Garth's set lips, and the swollen veins of his temples,
besought him for goodness' sake to swear and not mind her.

He finally decided to change his mode of going; and contriving a
second little paddle, he embarked with Natalie. They progressed but
slowly against the current; for the short paddles had about the same
effectiveness as two of those little instruments for making butter pats,
which they strongly resembled. Garth figured they would be making a
mile an hour--but this way was easier on his temper.

To-day, the little river, placidly flowing between its grassy banks,
had an oddly pastoral look. With the familiar shapes of the overhanging
willows, and the brilliant marsh marigolds on the shallows, all drenched
in the opulent sunshine, they found themselves looking for cows on the
bank; and it seemed incredible that no church spire rose above any
of the distant clumps of trees. They could not rid themselves of the
feeling that this was no more than a day's picnic, with a house awaiting
them just ahead, and company and good cheer. But instead of that,
silently rounding a bend, they were unexpectedly introduced to the true
genius of the country. In the mud of one of the flats at the edge of the
water, sat a large brown bear on his haunches, soberly licking his paws.
He was no more than twenty feet from them--a room's length. At Natalie's
slight gasp of astonishment, he turned his head; and stared at them
agape, with hanging paws, like a great baby. He looked so homely and
comical Natalie burst out laughing. At the sound, Bruin promptly fell
to all fours; and with a great "woof!" of astonishment and indignation,
bundled over the bank out of sight.

To-day, the delicate, heady air of the Northern summer inspired their
veins like wine. As Olympians, they lunched on the greensward carpeting
the bank of a little inlet; while their shallop floated among tiny white
lilies at their feet. All afternoon their spirits soared into the realms
of incoherent enthusiasm; they filled th