IN THE PACIFIC. 201 



lake, while the captain hunted in the woods. 

 Taking up my position I had leisure to admire 

 the scene, which was most beautiful ; the lake 

 was as calm as a millpond, and every rock and 

 tree was reflected as in a mirror ; the old craft, 

 however, leaked so badly that I had to devote 

 my attention to keeping her afloat. Presently 

 I heard the hounds baying and the captain 

 swearing, at least so it sounded to me, then the 

 dogs gave tongue again, their voices echoing 

 from shore to shore ; the sound gradually died 

 away, and I concluded that a deer had been 

 started, but had gone in the wrong direction, 

 away from the water. I waited patiently, 

 listening for the slightest sound, and at last, 

 long after I had given up any hope of getting a 

 shot, I heard a crash among the rushes at the 

 far end of the lake, and presently saw some- 

 thing gliding along the water, leaving a long 

 ripple behind it. Knowing that it must be a 

 deer I paddled in a direction to intercept its 

 course, and coming nearer made it out to be a 

 buck swimming boldly for the opposite shore. 



