This bit of news, which we were very shortly able to verify with our own eyes, threw us into a considerable flutter.

That the natives of this unknown lake should understand the art of sailing seemed to suggest that they possessed some degree of civilization.

In a few more minutes it became evident that the occupant or occupants of the advancing boat had made us out.

For a moment or two she hung in the wind as though in doubt, and then came tacking towards us with great swiftness.

In ten more minutes she was within a hundred yards, and we saw that she was a neat little boat -- not a canoe 'dug out', but built more or less in the European fashion with planks, and carrying a singularly large sail for her size.