AN EXCITING CHASE. 113 



manifested by the gunwale several times taking in water, 

 so that my now irate companion almost got out of his 

 wits with rage. At length I attained a slight dexterity, 

 and succeeded, assisted by the skilful steering of the 

 Chippewa, in propelling our frail boat under a cedar that 

 grew on the termination of a promontory. Whatever 

 might have been my doubts before as to my friend's 

 assertion that game was afoot, they were now dissipated ; 

 for, true enough, the deep voice of a hound could be dis- 

 tinctly heard resounding through the forest, and coming 

 towards us ; every bound he spoke, till the echoes and his 

 voice were blended in one prolonged, deep, musical, note. 

 My pulsation increased as the music approached, my whole 

 nervous system was in a state of extreme tension ; even 

 clasping my gun, setting my teeth, only gave me tem- 

 porary relief, and never from that day to this has my 

 excitement been so intense. " Look ! look ! " said the 

 Indian, and, following the direction of his hand, I saw a 

 splendid doe breasting the water and heading for the 

 middle of the lake. Like all green hands, my first 

 prompting was to start in pursuit ; but my more wily 

 friend put a veto on that proposition, begging me to 

 restrain my impatience till the quarry got well out from 

 land. Long very long appeared the next few moments. 

 But it was evident I was not boss* only a deck hand of 

 very ordinary acquirements. Remonstrance was, therefore, 

 out of the question ; so, submission, with the best possible 

 grace, was adopted. By this time the doe had got nearly 



* American for " master." 



8 



