52 A FRIGHTENED ANIMAL. 



we were. They headed it in the proper direction, and 

 followed the terrified animal as it swam for life towards 

 the island on which we were encamped. We understood 

 their purpose, and sat perfectly silent. The deer struck the 

 island directly in front of our tent, and dashed forward in 

 wild affright, right through the midst of us, towards the 

 thicket in our rear, glad to be rid of his pursuers on the 

 water. As he bounded past us, we sprang up and shouted, 

 and if ever a dumb animal was astonished it was that deer. 

 He leaped up a dozen feet into the air, bleated out in the 

 extremity of his terror, and plunged madly forward, as if a 

 whole legion of fiends were at his tail; The stag hounds 

 which were tied to a sapling, by their fierce baying, added 

 vigor to his flight. We heard his snort at every bound 

 across the island, and his plunge into the lake on the other 

 side. 



In the morning we sent forward our boatman with the 

 tents and baggage to an island on the Upper Saranac, and 

 coasted this pleasant little lake. On the right, as you 

 approach the head, is a deep bay, skirted by a natural mea- 

 dow, where the rank wild grass, and the pond lilies that 

 grow along the shore furnish a rich pasture for the deer. 

 We saw several feeding quietly like sheep, on the little 







plain and upon the lily pads in the edge of the water. We 

 paddled silently to within a dozen rods of them, when, as 



M 



they discovered us, they dashed snorting and whistling 

 away. 



On the right of this meadow, and among the tall forest 



