54 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



finger a little distance to the left ; but the lunynous spot 

 was gone before I hardly got my eye on it. 



We were in the very place for deer. A heavy wind- 

 fall lay ahead of us, and the mingled trunks and twisted 

 branches looked like the chevaux defrise to some great 

 encampment. The flickering light made the shadows 

 move back and forth with a spectral effect, as though 

 dancing, and the hush of the forest was unbroken by any 

 sound. Every moment, I expected to see again the two 

 phosphorescent stars that indicate the deer's eyes, and 

 then the true shot would bring us the prize for our 

 labor. It seemed a long time in coming again. 



" That deer must be very shy," whispered the Doctor, 

 just above his breath. 



The next time, I saw it first. It was some distance 

 ahead, and there were two ; but before I could point 

 them out to my comrade, they had disappeared. Pres- 

 ently, we saw it on one side of us. 



" Charlie, that's a will-o'-the-wisp," said Poke, in rather 

 a subdued tone, " or the devil ; who ever heard of a 

 deer going around so ?" 



"He is examining you to see what manner of man you 

 are." 



" Perchance it is some spirit of a departed buck, lead- 

 ing us a wild chase to destroy us." 



" There it is, right behind me, as I live !" ejaculated 

 the Doctor, in evident trepidation. 



Sure enough, as I turned my head, I saw the two blue 

 lights that indicate the reflecting4enses of the eye. The 



