70 WILD SPOUTS IN THE SOUTH. 



" ' It's deuced strange,' said Stockton, quickly, as he 

 raised his gun to his shoulder, ' that I have seen but one 

 eye each time.' 



" ' Perhaps they have all accidentally been standing 

 sidewise to you,' I replied. 



" ' Side or front,' he answered, * I'll black that fellow's 

 eye for him.' Crack went the rifle, and down went the 

 eye. "VVe had now arrived at the place where we 

 supposed the first deer to have fallen, and made search 

 for it, but nowhere was the game to be found. 



" Turning from the place, imagine our surprise at again 

 beholding that single fiery ball glaring upon us with the 

 same identical motion of the others. Stockton mecha- 

 nically raised his rifle, but paused as he did so. As for 

 me, nothing prevented my throwing down the fire-pan 

 and giving ' leg bail ' but the disagreeable certainty of 

 not being able to retrace my steps. I ran back in 

 memory to childhood's hours, and recalled the old nur- 

 sery tales I had heard of bears, lions, and hobgoblins, until 

 I was satisfied beyond a doubt that Stockton had been 

 shooting at the devil ! I was, however, aroused from my 

 revery by his exclaiming, ' Ha ! I am a pretty fool. 

 Something is the matter with my rifle, and I've been 

 shooting all this time at the same deer ! Here, give me 

 yours.' I did so, but could not help thinking that the 

 deer was a greater fool by far if he had stood to so many 

 shots. 



" The eye was now hid behind some bushes, but soon 

 appeared again, when Stockton, after a long and delibe- 



