1904] An October Tramp. 155 



AN OCTOBER TRAMP. 



Lured by the glamour of a recent morn, which presaged a 

 bright invigorating day, I started at eight o'clock for a tramp to 

 Kirk's Ferry, where the charming scenery of the Gatineau river 

 and the Laurentian hills is admirably exhibited. This very diver- 

 sified and picturesque district holds many attractions for the 

 naturalist and nature-lover. Through its broken ridges and 

 swamps, the deer are still not uncommon, especially in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the beautiful lakes which lie a few miles to the west- 

 ward (Meach, Harrington and Phillips). From these retreats 

 they sometimes stray, or are driven, even nearer to the city, as it 

 was my good fortune to observe on this tramp. When halfway 

 up the long hill (which gives pause to many a cyclist) opposite 

 Wright's Bridge, 1 heard the yelping of dogs coming up from the 

 deep wooded ravine through which the Old Chelsea brook flows 

 down to the Gatineau. Halting for a moment, 1 was greatly sur- 

 prised to see a doe and fawn go bounding by on the other side of 

 the ditch, their white tails flashing among the roadside weeds and 

 brambles. They did not seem to see me, but disturbed by a 

 wagon a few rods ahead they separated, the doe going off 

 toward the river and the fawn turning to the left down through 

 the gullies. The noise made by the dogs upon their trail showed 

 that the pursuers were not hounds, and when they came in view, 

 toiling heavily along, they proved to be a spotted coach-dog and 

 an old collie. They went oflf upon the trail of the fawn, but I 

 was glad to think that they could hardly overtake even this poor 

 little creature. Surprised to witness a chase within less than five 

 miles of the Parliament Buildings, my wonder was augmented 

 upon gaining the plateau at the top of the next hill (at the pine 

 grove where such a good view off^ers ot the Chelsea rapids) to see 

 another doe coming down through the field, as if to cross the road 

 toward the river. It was running almost straight for a wagon 

 full of hunters from Hull, but startled by their stopping and jump- 

 mg down to get their guns out of the wagon, it turned and ran 

 down inside the fence toward me. My sympathies being with the 

 harassed and timid animal, I crouched down by the fence, and 

 when it came by at arm's length I jumped up and waved my coat, 



