HUNTING THE DEER. 211 



The Irishman, Samuel Patrick O'Donoghue by name, 

 more generally known by abbreviation as " Pat," was the 

 landlord of a tavern, which supplied food and liquor to a 

 company of workmen engaged in opening up a quicksilver 

 mine for a citizen of Boston. Partly on this resource, 

 and partly on the produce of the chase, lived Master Pat, 

 who was justly esteemed the most skilful sportsman in 

 the country-side. 



" Good day, Mr. Eustace; good day, sirs," he exclaimed, 

 lifting his foxskin cap, the tail of which, falling over his 

 head, resembled the tassel to a life-guard's helmet. " Wel- 

 come, master ! You have arrived in the very nick of 

 time. I was exploring the wood this morning, and found, 

 at about an hour's journey from here, in the bushes of 

 the ' Devil's Hole, 7 three troops of deer, numbering at 

 least a score of heads." 



While Pat announced these welcome tidings, David, 

 who had moored his boat, brought our game-bags in one 

 hand, and in the other the lanterns manufactured by Mr. 

 Eustace's locksmith. 



" Bravo !" cried Pat, overcome with joy at the sight of 

 the two tin utensils painted black ; " bravo ! this will be 

 a jolly affair ! We will just show your friend how we 

 hunt the deer in this part of the country ! " 



" Good, but not a word more ! I want to surprise , 

 my French friend here; so, Pat, keep the secret until 

 evening. Shut your mouth, or talk about something 

 else." 



"All right," shouted the innkeeper; and without 

 another word he entered the interior of his hut, took 

 down his gun, whistled for his two hounds, and then pre- 

 ceded us along a narrow pathway which led into the heart 



