200 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



finding ourselves on the top of Green Mountain, 

 we dislodged a large boulder, which bounded 

 from ledge to ledge into the valley below ; the 

 noise startled a splendid buck which had been 

 lying down below us, and which we never 

 should have seen but for this ruse; unfor- 

 tunately I only got a glimpse of the beast's 

 head, and missed it clean. 



A retired army officer used to live at Elk 

 Lake, some miles from Victoria, and I paid him 

 a visit at his invitation to have a day's hunting 

 together. He lived in a small hut built with 

 his own hands, on the borders of the lake ; the 

 site was well chosen with a view to sport, at 

 the back of the hut were dense woods extending 

 in every direction, and reaching down to the 

 water's edge. The lake was well stocked with 

 trout, and wild fowl frequented it in the winter. 

 I received a cordial welcome from the captain, 

 and two magnificent hounds greeted my arrival 

 with howls of delight. It was arranged that I 

 should take a rickety old canoe which lay on 

 the beach, and paddle into the middle of the 



