128 MAMMALIA. 



Deer wading in the creek. Then all is still again. Is the animal 

 standing in the water looking at the light, or has he stepped out 

 upon the bank ? The sportsman hears the faint ripple of water 

 against the bow as the boat moves swiftly on ; he is conscious that 

 the hat is rising on his head ; his heart beats louder and louder, 

 and he feels it knocking violently against his ribs. The boat is 

 slackened and the light made, in turn, to cover both shores. Mo- 

 ments seem like hours, and the flies are entirely forgotten. But 

 what has become of the game? Inadvertently the gun rubs 

 against the jack-stick when, simultaneously, is heard the sharp 

 shrill whistle of a startled buck, from behind a bush to the right, 

 and the fading sound of crackling branches announce his disap- 

 pearance in the forest. 



The flies now seem worse than ever, and so they really are, for 

 the boat is passing through their very headquarters, and the bright 

 light attracts them to the spot. Continuing the course up the 

 sluggish stream it is some time before anything occurs to divert 

 the sportsman's attention from these tormenting insects, which 

 constantly get into the eyes, nose, and mouth, till, harassed, ex- 

 asperated, and well nigh distracted, he applies his only remedy, 

 the tar oil, so freely that he soon feels it trickling slowly down his 

 aching back. The cramped position of his legs and feet is actually 

 painful, and his back "seems as if it would break." The hour is 

 past midnight, his lids are heavy, and he has almost determined to 

 request the guide to turn back when a loud plunge alongside the 

 boat gives him a sudden start and elicits the involuntary exclama- 

 tion : "what's that?" forgetting for the moment the necessity of 

 silence. " Nothing but a muskrat," calmly replies the guide in a 

 whisper. " Muskrat ? hum ! " he retorts in a tone of incredulity, 

 but says no more. 



Another hour passes wearily away. The inlet, which is here so 

 narrow and shallow as scarely to admit the boat, is crossed by a 

 fallen tree that bars farther progress. The return voyage becomes 



