decoys to be put in order; and while I use the white
paint, you and Regnie must rope and repair the decoys."

Accordingly the four sought the barn, whither Ben and Creamer had
preceded them on a similar errand. La Salle's boat was a flat-bottomed
"sculling-float," twelve feet long by three feet beam, and ten inches
deep, with a hole through the stern-board, through which, with a short,
crooked oar, a man could silently propel himself within shot of a flock
of fowl. Davies's boat aimed at the same end in another way, being a
large side-wheel paddle-boat, propelled by cranks, for two persons. Both
boats were painted white, so as to be indistinguishable from the
floating ice at a little distance. Besides these two, there were a
double boat with centre paddle-wheel, and a side-wheel worked by the
feet on the velocipede principle, belonging on the island.

The forenoon was spent as proposed, and as the bad weather still held, a
target was set up for practice with the rifle, and many excellent shots
were made from the great door of the barn. At last, however, the
impatience of the party overcame all fears of exposure, and, donning
their water-proof clothing, all went down to the East Bar to watch its
effect on the ice.

The huge floe had given way at last, and broken into many floating
islets of varied size, had become a scene of life and animation, in
striking contrast to its late icy desolation. In every direction geese,
singly and in flocks, fed along the edges of the still immovable inner
ice-fields; swam placidly among the narrow leads, or in huge bodies
blackened the open pools or the projecting points of ice. Among them,
too, wheeled many flocks of clamorous brent, while, from time to time,
the desolate cry of the Moniac duck, or the shrill, monotonous, strident
flight of the "Whistler" warned the sportsmen that new visitants were
about to greet their vision.

"You will have to change your location, Risk," said Lund, who had
accompanied them; "for you must shoot on the water-line, now the ice has
opened."

"Davies and I go home to-morrow," answered he. "I regret to leave with
such a prospect before us, but business presses; and besides, there are
new dangers now which I care not to face."

"Ay, ay! you're right, Mr. Risk," said Lund; "and although I am glad to
have you around me, I shall be glad this year when I see the last of you
safely across the Western Bar."

"There, there, Lund," said Risk; "they're youn