A Deer Chase. 35 



— still Ave did gain on him. When the chase began, 

 he was some thirty rods in advance of us, swimming 

 for dear life towards the nearest point on the opposite 

 shore, some half a mile or more distant. 



It was no boy's play to overtake that deer. In 

 the excitement of the race, however, we forgot the 

 labor, and burning heat of the sun, — we took no heed 

 to the big drops of sweat that chased each other down 

 our faces, as we pulled with might and main after 

 him. Yet we had no thought of taking his life, — that 

 we might easily have done, for my loaded rifle lay in 

 the bottom of our little craft. Our object was a trial 

 of speed, to witness his wild affright, and his desperate 

 efforts to escape our pursuit. Well, we pulled steadily 

 after him ; a stern chase is said to be a long chase, 

 bat when we were two-thirds of the way across the 

 lake, our canoe was at his tail. Had Aye been less ex- 

 cited, it AYOuld have seemed to us cruel to witness the 

 agony of his fright. He Avould plunge forward witli 

 an effort that would raise him half out of the water, 

 and then settle down again desperately to his work. 

 With a look of horrible wildness, and nostrils dis- 

 tended, he struggled forward. Once we shouted a 

 wild halo I as our canoe touched him, and the poor 



