VIRGINIAN DEER. 



161 



Oue day, in 1844, during a marcTi to Fort 

 Hamilton, the stag (taking advantage of a halt 

 beneath the fort) climbed up the inclined planes 

 to the very top of the fort. When he arrived there, 

 he began to browse very tranquilly upon the grass 

 at the summit. A cat was sleeping at the top, 

 snugly ensconced between the stones, and at the 

 unexpected sight of the stag sprang up in alarm. 

 The deer was not less frightened, and, making a 

 bound, lost its balance and fell into the court below. 

 When the Highlanders rushed out, the poor brute 

 was dead, and the Newfoundland was licking the 

 face of its dead friend in a manner lamentable to 

 behold. 



Nick, too (as this dog was called), had a story of 

 his own. He belonged originally to an officer in 

 the marine barracks on board The Constitution (the 

 tender then moored off Castle Garden), and he 

 happened to be dining with the Highlanders, in the 

 company of his master, when the stag arrived. The 

 dog immediately struck up a close friendship with 

 the deer, and the other was not slow to reciprocate 

 the signs of friendship. From that moment, Nick 

 refused to quit the barracks, and in spite of every 

 endeavour, coaxing, bribery, even blows, the dog 

 adhered to his resolution, and his master had 

 nothing for it but to cede with a good grace, and 

 present his Newfoundland to the Highlanders. 

 From that time forth, Nick had no friendship for 



