OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 2 6l 



point. The afternoon dragged slowly away without the 

 occurrence of any exciting event until after four o'clock. 

 The waters of the lake were motionless ; scarcely moved 

 by a single ripple. The watch for the appearance of the 

 deer was constant and faithful, and not limited to the par- 

 ticular point at which he was expected to make his appear- 

 ance. We were somewhat discouraged by the non-arrival 

 of the expected visitor, when we discovered that the cap- 

 tain had sighted game and was already in motion. Our 

 canoe was quickly brought into motion and headed in the 

 direction indicated by the captain's movements, although 

 he is more than half a mile away from us. We are 

 thoroughly satisfied that the deer is visible to him, since 

 he never paddles with so much energy and skill except 

 when actually engaged in the chase. We are rapidly ap- 

 proaching each other, and now catch our first glimpse of 

 the deer's head, which, in the distance, appeared not larger 

 than a small duck resting on the surface of the water. 

 The captain is much nearer to the game than we are at 

 this moment. " Tom" is working the paddle as though 

 his life depended on his individual exertion. The cap- 

 tain's canoe shoots through the water like a thing of life. 

 It is a grand sight, worthy the brush of an artist. On- 

 ward, still onward, over the silvery waters of the lake 

 rushed our canoes towards the living goal which was yet 

 unconscious of the danger. It was a long and hard pull 

 for those who held the paddles, but we gained rapidly on 

 the leisurely-swimming deer. The captain had succeeded 

 in bringing his canoe within a few hundred yards of the 

 animal before he was discovered, but unfortunately she 



