MILITARY AND CIVIL. 33

that figure may be set down as being the number of its settlers during the first year of its existence.

The winter wore on, and at length the long bright days of spring came, awakening new life in the infant settlement. The flashing blade rose and fell under the skilful guidance of the axe-man and the work of clearing the forest proceeded quickly. Nature, too, resumed her gayest; the woods became green and full of life; songsters of the grove built their little dwellings and sang amongst the branches. Here, too, huge stumps of falling trees and piles of brushwood,—fruits of the woodman’s labor during months of toil and care came to view. Large open spaces were visible in various directions, yet a great deal remained to be accomplished.

This virgin forest, as indeed was the Whole Island, comprised of evergreen fir trees, mingled with the verdant foliage of the oak, beech, birch, maple, ash and poplar, while the majestic pine and hemlock spread their branches over an undergrowth of hazel, elder, aspen, juniper, cedar and thick tangled brambles, and beneath their shady branches coveys of partridge, wild pidgeon, cranes, crows, hawks, owls and many other kind of the feathered creation found a cool retreat from the scorching rays of the summer’s sun; whilst other animals common to this woodland, such as the fierce wild cat, savage bear, and cunning fox had place of refuge amongst the underwood and thicket, where prowling in savage freedom, disturbed by no rustling of leaves or cracking of boughs, stealthily approached some unsuspecting victim, when with a fatal bound would overcome and destroy whatever it might be. Here from tree to tree, gay little squirrels were leaping, and bonny rabbits browsing at their leasure, while minks and musk-rats swarmed the creeks and streams, burrowing deep in their banks for places of safe retreat. In various places the ground was richly clothed in sarsaparilla, mountain-shrub, maiden-hair, whortleberries, raspberries cran- berries, blueberries and strawberries, whilst to the gentle breeze the rank thistle nodded its crimson head. Intervening were tracts of marsh or bog land, overgrown with plants, moss and wild flowers, the secret homes of creeping reptiles and leaping frogs. Here, as evening drew her mantle over the uninhabited forest, followed by delightful balmy nights laden with fragrant perfume, could be heard warbling, fairy-like notes, loud and shrill, while thousands of unseen songsters joined in the chorus

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