AMONGST THE WILD GOATS OF THE CASCADES. 309 



channel away from shore. As an extra incentive now 

 to exertion was the fact that the last of our meat was 

 " done finish," as Sambo would have said. So my line 

 was quickly reeled in and the rod laid aside, and turn- 

 ing with some caution, so as to avoid overturning the 

 unsteady little craft, I seized another paddle, and we 

 gained rapidly upon our quarry. Making interroga- 

 tive signs to Jack that I had no rifle, I pointed to a 

 piece of rope. In answer he pointed to a piece of 

 wood lying before him, and I knew thereby that he 

 intended to strike the animal on the head until he 

 should have stunned it. Just then I noticed another 

 canoe shooting out from land, furiously propelled by 

 George and the old Indian, who may have seen the 

 animal first, but had considerably farther to paddle. 

 As we approached it the deer plunged madly and, 

 swerving, we overshot our mark ; but soon after 

 Jack managed to seize it firmly by the hide, and the 

 struggle commenced, while I threw my whole weight 

 as a counter-balance on the opposite side of the canoe. 

 The animal kept towing us round and round, the 

 Indian all the while raining a succession of fierce rapid 

 blows upon its head, which caused it to succumb just 

 as the rival canoe came up. 



