VIRGINIAN DEER. 157 



tongue and ask no questions ; presently, however, I 

 saw Mr. Eustis light up his lantern and fasten it 

 upon his head, buckling the straps under his chin. 

 I could hardly help bursting out with laughter, but 

 when my host had explained to me that all wild 

 animals, without exception, are attracted by a light 

 in the middle of the night, I understood the purpose 

 of the lanterns. " So now, my friend," cried Eustis, 

 " put on your lantern and get ashore." I obeyed 

 the order mechanically, whilst Pat and David pushed 

 the canoe towards the bank. At that moment, by 

 one of those annoying accidents which sometimes 

 happen, the clouds cleared away from the moon, 

 and the forest was as bright as in the day time. INIr. 

 Eustis, liowever, declared that this would make no 

 difference, so on we went. He was not far wrong, 

 either, for we had scarcely walked on for ten minutes 

 before we saw a splendid deer trotting up to meet 

 us full in the face. I aimed, and at twenty paces 

 fired. The deer gave a leap and fell dead. "Bravo !" 

 cried Mr. Eustis. Pat and David carried the game 

 to the boat. " Now for my turn," cried Mr. Eustis, 

 " and St. Hubert grant me as good luck as he has 

 you." The aspiration was soon realised, for we had 

 not proceeded far before coming upon a herd of 

 seven deer, does and stags, all on the look out, as if 

 curious to ascertain the meaning of the unusual 

 light. "We both took aim at the same moment, and 

 whilst I covered a splendid stag, with a noble set of 



