98 THE ST. REOTS AND SARANACS. 



we swimg along- up the Still- Water agaiu, by legitimate 

 methods of water-travel, content, even, to let it rain, if we 

 could only have tlie water smootli ns well as wet. 



As we proceeded, my boat l)eing in advance, we saw a 

 deer standing, broadside towards us, in the sliallow water 

 at the margin of the stream, and looking intentl}' at us. Hal- 

 sey seized the gun, which lay by his side, aimed, nulled the 

 trigger, and the cap(sutl"ering from the general dei)ression 

 and damimess) snapped. Whereat the deer leisurely walked 

 out of the stream, daintily lifting his feet out of the water 

 as he went, and disappeared in the thiclc underbrush. I 

 was mortilied that our apjiearance ins]>ired no more terror 

 in the beast, and felt that it was not even beastly- compli- 

 mentar}^ Halsey fumljled in his vest-pocket for a fresh cap, 

 while the deer was walking off, l)ut was at least ludf a 

 minute too late in preparing his weapon for discharge. I 

 have no doubt a deer, if consulted, would reconunend all 

 hunters to use a muzzle-loader. 



Scarcely fifteen minutes had elapsed before we s:nv 

 another deer feeding in the water. It seemed a good day 

 for deer. The rain had just ceased and the last rays of the 

 setting sun were slanting up-stream. AVe were out of range, 

 and Halsey leveling his gun took good aim, Avhile I, in 

 a highly excited state of mind, seated in the stern of the 

 boat, i>a(l(lled, pushed and somehow advanced eiglit or ten 

 rods to, almost, within ten rods of the deer. He looked up, 

 and, conscious I have no doubl that a dry cap had l)eeu 

 put upon the gim, or perhaps imagining that oiu- generally- 

 bedraggled appearance was only a blind and that we were 



