We first took the course of the stream that
ran by the foot of the hill. Some way up we came to a marsh on the edge
of a small lake, and here in the swamp grew a kind of wild rice, now
ripe on the stalk, round which flew flocks of birds. We shot five or
six of these, and I was glad to note the skill with which Ernest now
used his gun. I took some of the rice, that my wife might judge how far
it was of use to us as food.
We went quite round the lake, and saw plants and trees that were not
known to me, and birds that Ernest said he had not seen in any of the
woods near The Nest. But we were most struck with the sight of a pair
of black swans, and a troop of young ones that came in their train.
Ernest would have shot at them, but I told him not to kill what we did
not want for use.
We did not get back till late in the day. Jack and Fritz, whom we met
just as we came round the foot of the bill, had done their task well,
for they had a good stock of food in a sack that lay on the back of the
ass, and they brought the good news that all was well at home.
We spent four more days at the Farm, and then left it in such a state
as to be fit for our use when we chose to go back to it.
The Farm House was but a part of our plan, for we had made up our minds
to build a sort of half way house, or cot, in which we could rest on
our way to the Farm.
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