fter
seeing it paddle about an hour or two in every direction, an old
beaver trapper and deer hunter took it into his head that it was
nothing more than a water-fowl of some large species; and resolving to
have a crack at it anyhow, he crept behind the rocks at the end of the
cliff, and blazed away when it swam past the next time. Mercy on us!
when he fired, they say the thing turned his head towards him, and
came at him in a straight line, and as fast as lightning, blowing
sparks of fire out of its nostrils, while the poor man stood stock
still, spell-bound, until it seized upon him, and he has never been
heard of since."

"Nothing more?" asked Glenn, lightly, and smiling.

"Good gracious! what more would you want? But there _was_ more; for
the very next day, when the people were looking at the island from a
distance, and wondering what had been the fate of old Odell, another
large bird came out. But this was like an eagle, and instead of going
into the water, it flew up into the air, and kept going higher and
higher, until it was no bigger than a sparrow, and soon vanished
altogether! I declare we are too near the island now, Mr. Glenn; let
us go back; we have gone far enough!" said Joe, beseechingly, his own
tale having roused all the terrors which his nature was capable of
harboring.

Glenn seemed to pay no attention to what his companion was saying, but
strode onward directly towards the island.

"Mr. Glenn!" continued Joe, stepping ahead, and facing him by turning
round. "Oh, sir! you don't certainly intend to venture any closer to
that fatal spot?"

"Pshaw!" replied Glenn, pushing him aside, and continuing on. When
they were opposite the island, Joe, whose alarm had almost deprived
him of the power of motion, was now struck with horror as he beheld
his master pause, and then descend to the ice, and walk deliberately
to the haunted ground! When Glenn reached the bank, he turned to his
pale and shivering companion, and motioned him to follow.

"Oh, Heaven! we'll never be seen any more!" cried Joe, between his
chattering teeth.

"Come on, Joe! I'll take care of you," said Glenn, encouragingly, as
his man hesitated in doubt when midway on the ice.

"The holy saints preserve me!" said Joe, gliding over, quaking with
fear, and clinging to Glenn's hand.

They walked up a gentle ascent from the water's edge, whence Glenn
expected to see nothing more than a surface of snow, and the dense
growth of young timbe