THE CHASE ON THE ISLAND. 227 



We started in the morning to course a deer upon an 

 island, containing perhaps sixty acres, opposite and across 

 the lake from our camping ground. We stationed two of 

 our boats between the island and the shore nearest the 

 main land, and the other on the opposite side, and sent 

 Cullen upon the island to beat for game. It was scarcely 

 five minutes, before the voices of the dogs broke upon the 

 stillness of the morning, in a simultaneous and fierce cry, as if 

 they had started the game suddenly, and fresh from his lair. 

 Away they went in full cry across the island, the deer 

 sweeping around the upper end, and returning on the oppo- 

 site side, as if loth to take to the water ; but true to their 

 instincts, the hounds followed, making the hills and the old 

 woods ring again with the music of their voices. Presently, 

 a noble buck broke cover, directly opposite to where the 

 Doctor and Smith's boat lay. As our object was rather to 

 enjoy the music of the chase, than to capture the deer, they 

 shouted and hallooed as he entered the water, and he wheeled 

 back, and went tearing in huge affright through the woods, 

 up the island again. Still the howling was upon his trail, 

 and as he approached the upper end, he again took to the 

 water, to be frightened back by Martin and myself, and 

 with renewed energy he bounded across to a point stretch- 

 ing out into the lake on the opposite side. Here Spaldiug 

 and Wood were stationed, and they, by their shouting, drove 

 him back again to the thickets. By this time, the poor 

 animal began to appreciate the full peril of his position, for 

 turn where he would he found an enemy in front, while the 



