A FAIEY GODMOTHER, 173 



While he was croaking and I chaffing, we saw a vision. 

 A fairy godmother appeared on the scene as, indeed, it 

 was time she should, the period of our extremity having 

 arrived. 



She appeared about three hundred yards off, drinking at 

 an air-hole in the river-ice, and in the shape of a doe. 



We looked at one another, but did not stir ; except that 

 Joe grinned the grin of satisfaction until I thought he would 

 "grin his head off." When the deer had drunk her fill she 

 started off at a gentle trot, and crossing a low ridge, dis- 

 appeared from view. We jumped at once to our feet, 

 buckled our ammunition-belts on, snatched up our rifles, 

 chained up the dogs, and started in pursuit. 



Taking a line of direction which would cut diagonally the 

 course the deer had gone on, and keeping as much as 

 possible abreast, and about two hundred yards apart, we 

 pushed eagerly forward. 



After going about a mile, I was fortunate enough to 

 get a shot, though not under favourable circumstances. I 

 came suddenly in sight of the deer long before I expected to 

 strike her trail she had loitered to feed. 



I was on the run when we came in view of each other, 

 and she instantly dashed off at full speed ; as she did so I 

 pulled up, threw my rifle to the shoulder, and taking a rapid 

 aim well forward and low fired at her. Excepting that 

 the doe hunched herself together at the instant of my firing, 

 she showed no signs of being hit, for she went on, without 

 checking her speed, or apparently shortening her stride, and 

 was soon out of sight. 



On hearing the report of my rifle, Joe ran up an 



