72 LETTERS FROM THE BACKWOODS. 



LETTER XI. 



FLOATING DEER — A NIGHT EXCURSION — MORNING IN 

 THE WOODS. 



As I said in my last, Mitchell looked up to the sky 

 and out upon the lake a moment, and then, in that 

 quiet way so characteristic of his race, said, " If you 

 want to go after a deer, it is time we started." It 

 took but five minutes to load my rifle, put on my over- 

 coat, and announce myself ready. Lifting our bark 

 canoe softly from the rocks, we launched it on the still 

 water, and, stepping carefully in, pushed off. Pre- 

 viously, however, Mitchell requested me to try one of 

 my matches, to see if the damp had affected them. 



You know that deer-floating amid backwoodsmen 

 is very like deer-stalking in Scotland. In the warm 

 summer months, especially in June, the deer come 

 down from the mountains at night to feed on the 

 marshes that line the shores of the lakes and rivers. 

 While they are thus feeding, if you pass along with- 

 out making a noise, you can hear them as they step 

 about in the edge of the water, or snort as they scent 

 approaching danger. The moment you become aware 

 of the proximity of one, strike a light and fix it firmly 

 in the bow of your boat, or in a lantern on your head, 



