1 64 A Hunt after Deer 



the Parker shouted from the stern, " Steer her 

 around; I '11 tickle him with birdshot." Suit- 

 ing the action to the word the Parker belched 

 forth again and again. Thus ended the last 

 round of ammunition, as the deer made a bee- 

 line for the boat. The oarsman, who under- 

 stood his business, prepared for the charge by- 

 turning the boat bow first to meet the charge, 

 and the next moment the buck threw his two 

 front feet into the boat. Instantly the party in 

 the bow caught the stag by his horns, pushed 

 him off the boat, and held him at arm's length 

 in the water; at the same time calling for 

 " Bill's " jack-knife he proceeded to draw it 

 over the animal's throat. Presently the deer 

 showed signs of giving up the fight, and was 

 soon hors de combat^ when the hero with the 

 jackknife, beads of perspiration mantling his 

 noble brow, said, " There! I have severed his 

 jugular vein " ; but upon examination we dis- 

 covered the knife had not passed through 

 the skin; but the No. 8 birdshot had entered 

 the head, causing death. Had the deer struck 

 the side of the frail boat, it would have been a 

 very serious matter ; the boat would surely have 



