222 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



sky was cloudless : we could see for miles round 

 to the south of us and across the lake to the north, 

 but the surface of the water was hidden by a veil — 

 not of mist, but of thick solid-looking cloud. The 

 effect was curious, for the whole valley of the lake 

 was filled with a bank of white motionless cloud, 

 so level that it looked as if the water had been 

 turned into milk. Suddenly, as the sun rose 

 higher, this mass began to move — to roll about 

 and lift a little in places — and then, almost instan- 

 taneously, it all broke up, curled off in wreaths, 

 vanished in thin air, and disclosed the placid 

 deep-blue surface of the water beneath. We had 

 not walked far before we discovered three stags 

 standing distinct against the sky-line on a distant 

 ridge. The ground was so level and so bare of 

 cover, that it was impossible to get near them un- 

 perceived, and I was obliged to content myself 

 with a long shot. I fired both barrels, and, to my 

 disgust, saw all three deer trot quietly off together. 

 After a while they wheeled round and stood 

 looking back to see what was the matter, and gave 

 me a chance for another long shot, which seemed to 

 satisfy their curiosity, for they turned at once 

 and disappeared over a little rise. An expression 

 more emphatic than polite escaped my lips, I 



