This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. THE DROWNED LANDS. "Seekest thou the plash y brink Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide, Or where the rocking billows rise and sink On the chafed oceanis side? "And soon thy toil shall end, Soon shalt thou find a summer home and rest, And scream among thy fellows--reeds shall bend Soon o.er thy sheltered nest." Bryant. For some time past, on the mainland, we had been noticing the signs of the departing year, and at Bonda Key these indications became more marked and numerous. The air had not lost its balsam or the leaf its colour, yet there were other shadows on nature's dial slighter in appearance, but as true in reality. The ear missed the whir in the evening air of those summer insects, whose short lives had already terminated. The eye saw a clearness in the atmosphere that brought objects several miles distant apparently near at hand, and sometimes elevated them above the horizon. Some birds that wore in summer the livery of the rainbow had apparelled themselves in plainer garments, and from day to day new arrivals among migratory tribes of the air would recall the mind to those northern hills where the jagged pine and lichened rock were already grey with the first flurry of snow. We were all standing one morning at the " creak o' day," on the island, watching the first effects of the sun before its rising, and noting the little indications of the progress nature had made during the night. Thus travellers at sea will come forth early in the morning, and for a few minutes scan the ocean and ship, and note the bearings and the winds before they turn to the regular thoughts and occupations of the day. "See those ducks coming?" said Jackson. "Where?" "Close by the mainland, sir, low down." "Yes! they are coming this way, ...