The Deer Hunt. 185 



pace was evidently telling upon him. His tongue 

 was out, and we heard his panting as he passed us. 

 There was no speed lost by lofty bounding, as we 

 often see in the deer, as he dashes through the forest ; 

 no looking back over his shoulder, and waiving his 

 white flag in defiance, as if glorying in the speed of 

 his flight. But his nose pointed straight out one way, 

 and his tail the other, as he stretched himself like a 

 race-horse, in long low bounds, every muscle strained 

 to escape. Again we cheered on the dog, and away 

 they went in another heat round the island. Shortly 

 after the cry of Shack rounded the lower end of the 

 island, we saw the deer plunge into the water, and 

 strike out for the main land. Shack, too, plunged 

 after him in pursuit, but the buck was greatly his su- 

 perior in swimming, and he soon gave over and re- 

 turned to the island. We might easily have over- 

 taken the deer with our canoe, but we had no occasion 

 for venison, and we let him go. We watched him as 

 he swam manfully for the shore, leaving a long wake 

 in the still water behind him. I saw him through my 

 glass as he waded slowly to the land and steal quietly 

 into the woods, seemingly wearied enough, but rejoic- 

 ing in his escape. 



