with a rapidity that brought forcibly to mind that wise
saying, "The more hurry, the less speed;" for they appeared constantly
to miss their mark, although they jumped twice their own length out of
the water in the effort.

Ducks and geese sprang from their liquid beds with an amazing amount of
unnecessary sputter, as if they had awakened to the sudden consciousness
of being late for breakfast, then alighted in the water again with a
_squash_, on finding (probably) that it was too early for that meal,
but, observing other flocks passing and repassing on noisy wing, took to
flight again, unable, apparently, to restrain their feelings of delight
at the freshness of the morning air, the brightness of the rising sun,
and the sweet perfume of the dewy verdure, as the mists cleared away
over the tree-tops and lost themselves in the blue sky. Everything
seemed instinct not only with life, but with a large amount of
superabundant energy. Earth, air, sky, animal, vegetable, and mineral,
solid, and liquid, all were either actually in a state of lively,
exulting motion, or had a peculiarly sprightly look about them, as if
nature had just burst out of prison _en masse_, and gone raving mad with
joy.

Such was the delectable state of things the morning on which two canoes
darted from the camp of the Knisteneux, amid many expressions of
good-will. One canoe contained our two friends, Charley and Jacques;
the other, Redfeather and his wife Wabisca.

A few strokes of the paddle shot them out into the stream, which carried
them rapidly away from the scene of their late festivities. In five
minutes they swept round a point which shut them out from view, and they
were swiftly descending those rapid rivers that had cost Charley and
Jacques so much labour to ascend.

"Look out for rocks ahead, Mr Charles," cried Jacques, as he steered
the light bark into the middle of a rapid, which they had avoided when
ascending by making a portage. "Keep well to the left o' yon swirl.
_Parbleu_, if we touch the rock _there_, it'll be all over with us."

"All right," was Charley's laconic reply. And so it proved, for their
canoe, after getting fairly into the run of the rapid, was evidently
under the complete command of its expert crew, and darted forward amid
the foaming waters like a thing instinct with life. Now it careered and
plunged over the waves where the rough bed of the stream made them more
than usually turbulent. Anon it flew with