140 THE ADIRONDACK. 



past, and crack went the rifle of W — d. He missed, 

 and again our skiff was rapidly dividing the waves 

 before her, while in scarcely more time than I have 

 been relating it, another ball was in my gun, and 

 I exclaimed, "Now, Mitchell, as we approach him, 

 throw the head of the boat on the waves, so the 

 motion shall be steady, and if I miss him, I will 

 fling my rifle into the lake." As we came up, a 

 single stroke of the oar sent her round, and as she 

 rose and fell on the short sea, I "watched my time" 

 and pulled. A desperate plunge and a bloody streak 

 upon the water, told that the bullet had found the 

 life-blood. Struggle on, bold fellow, but your life 

 is reached, and never again shall your foot press 

 the mountain-side! Just then another shot struck 

 the water close by our boat, glanced, and also en- 

 tered the deer. He bowed his antlered head in the 

 waves, and turned over on his side, while the short, 

 convulsive efforts told of his death agony. A few 

 strokes of the oar, and our boat lay alongside — the 

 knife of the Indian entered his throat, and the deed 

 was done. I raised him by the horns, and towed 

 him slowly along toward the shore. The excitement 



