268 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



I stood entranced, and so great was my admiration, that 

 nothing could have induced me to disturb the harmony of 

 the picture by destroying the life, or disturbing the retreat, 

 of the beautiful creatures which formed its prominent 

 features. To the left were several deer and fawns, knee- 

 deep, feeding upon the tender, succulent leaves of the 

 water-lily, the youngsters occasionally chasing one another 

 in sport, and unknowingly practising and developing those 

 muscles which Nature intends to be their protection in the 

 hour of danger ; their beautiful, graceful mothers fre- 

 quently raising their eyes from their morning repast with 

 maternal solicitude for their progenies' safety. What 

 sportsman could witness such a scene without feelings of 

 the greatest pleasure ? and, in my opinion, unless hunger 

 could be pleaded, he would be unworthy of the name who> 

 could desecrate the hallowedness and peacefuluess of the 

 view by wantonly shedding blood. Long I gazed with 

 feelings of rapture, congratulating myself on having at 

 last discovered a hunter's elysium. Uncertainty in 

 reference to my position had vanished, as without trouble, 

 by following the margin of the water, 1 could find my back 

 track. At last hunger told me it was time to think of 

 home and breakfast. An hour after found me in my bed- 

 room undergoing the luxury of a good wash, preparatory 

 to an ample meal. My friend, who was rejoiced to see- 

 me, having dreaded the inconvenience of hunting me up, 

 listened with great pleasure to my glowing, and, perhaps,, 

 unintentionally exaggerated description of all I had seen 

 and endured. On one point, however, we were resolved 

 an immediate visit to the beautiful locality I had so lately 



