THE HOLLAND EIVEE. 389 



could not find a stream better suited in every particular 

 for becoming the habitat of the pike than the river just 

 mentioned, for it is densely margined with weeds on both 

 sides, with a deep sluggish channel between them, and 

 such are its characteristic features for many a mile. If 

 the sportsman visited this haunt in spring or autumn, he 

 should not fail to have his gun with him, for innumerable 

 wild fowl frequent it in their migrations north and south;, 

 in fact, at sunset and break of day I have seen the entire 

 surface of its placid waters covered with them. Deer, 

 also, were formerly very abundant here, but I fear that 

 such is not now the case. I can remember as if it were 

 but yesterday, although twenty and more years have 

 slipped .past since then, I was upon the upper deck of a 

 steamboat, talking to its skipper, while the obedient vessel 

 carefully threaded the erratic course of the Holland River. 

 My companion exclaimed, " Here comes a buck ! " and 

 darted for the wheel-house. In an instant he rejoined me,, 

 rifle in hand. For some minutes we lost sight of the 

 beautiful deer in the tall reeds, but soon afterwards had the 

 satisfaction of seeing him breasting the waves as he headed 

 for the opposite bank. The game being behind us, pitching 

 and tossing in the ground-swell caused by the passage of our 

 craft, the captain delayed firing till the deer gained the 

 margin. In the halt that he made to recover his strength, 

 the better to be able to withdraw his feet from the sticky, 

 muddy bottom, the rifle was slowly brought to bear upon 

 the quarry's heart, and with the report the gallant animal 

 gave a tremendous struggle, and pitched headlong, to rise 

 no more. 



