FLOATING DEER. 185 



the warm, summer months, the deer come down 

 from the mountains at night to feed on the marshes 

 that line the shores of the lakes and rivers.* Wliile 

 they are thus feeding, if you pass along in a dark, 

 still night, without making a noise, you can hear 

 them, as they step about in the edge of the water, or 

 snort as they scent approaching danger. The moment 

 you become aware of the proximity of one, strike a 

 light and fix it firmly in the bow of your boat, or in a 

 lantern on your head, and advance cautiously. The 

 deer, attracted by the flame, stops and gazes intently 

 upon it. If he hears no sound he will not stir till you 

 are close to him. At first you catch only the sight of 

 his two eyes, burning like fire-balls in the gloom, but 

 as you approach nearer, the light is thrown on his red 

 flanks, and he stands revealed in all his beautiful pro- 

 portions before you. The candle serves to distinguish 

 the animal, and, at the same time, give you a clear 

 view of the sights along your gun-barrel, and he must 

 be a poor shot who misses at five rods' distance. 



* Sportsmen may wonder at our killing deer in midsummer^ but 

 I would say that we never shot a sucking doe. Bucks never are 

 better than in July, for the food is then so abundant they are 

 extremely fat. We killed only one doe in all, and that was a 

 yearling. 



