352 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



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wands, and, as the air came wafting from the land, it 

 brought the odor of the white water lilies, the queen of 

 all the water flora. Skirting the osiers we could see the 

 sword-grass growing rank beyond, and presently our 

 ears heard a splash in the water. A moment more of 

 slow drifting motion and we heard the tramp, tramp, of 

 some animal wading in the water. A little nearer we 

 floated^ the rifle in hand and the senses concentrating on 

 the grassy marsh. A little nearer, and the eye caught a 

 motion. Brighter grew the light as the canoe floated 

 up and reddened the grass and reeds, and we caught in 

 the darkness ahead a bright, blue light, and then another, 

 the reflection from the deer's eyes. Then we heard a 

 suppressed snort. Another stroke of the paddle, and a 

 deer stood out in the grass, his head thrown up, and his 

 eyes shedding pale light. The boat is directed straight 

 toward him, and the paddler is as still as a statue. I aimed 

 and fired. From beyond the smoke I heard the splashing 

 and dashing of water, and a big buck dashed past me, 

 and then two others, all rushing off together for a belt of 

 timber that arose close by us on our right. As they 

 ascended the bank, I aimed, at the hindermost with my 

 remaining barrel and fired, and at the sharp ring of the 

 rifle he fell back convulsively dead. 



"We hastened to the shore, and, carrying with us the 

 light from the boat, we found the deer I had first fired 

 at, lying with a broken shoulder, just dead, in the high 

 grass. The second was lying among the lily pads where 

 he had fallen, the ball having passed through the centre 



