108 PKAIPJE AND FOREST. 



ever, the scenery was pretty, the foliage brilliant, the 

 temperature pleasant, and a hunter might be far less 

 comfortably situated. 



Time was passing rapidly, the sun was fast dipping 

 into the horizon, and consequently our indefatigable 

 friends could not much longer be absent. Thus I 

 thought when Master Eedskin jumped suddenly out of 

 a canoe in which he had been lolling, clapped his 

 ear to the ' ground, exciting greatly my curiosity, and 

 remained in that ludicrous and ungraceful position for 

 some minutes. On asking him for an explanation, 

 naught but a grunt could I get for an answer, and a 

 iion-describable wave of the hand, as if to invoke 

 silence. After manoeuvring thus, my nearly exhausted 

 patience received the explanation that one of the 

 hounds was running a deer, and that they were coming 

 this way. Immediately afterwards I was bundled into 

 a canoe, and although I had never previously handled 

 a paddle, was forced to take one of those imple- 

 ments and attempt a trial ; but no use the obstinate 

 composition of birch bark would only spin round 

 and make most indisputable signs of objection to 

 its freight, which were manifested by the gunwale 

 several times taking in water, so that my now irate 

 companion almost got out of his wits with rage. 

 At length I attained a slight dexterity, and suc- 

 ceeded, assisted by the skilful steering of the Chip- 

 pewa, in propelling our frail boat under a cedar, that 

 grew on the termination of a promontory. Whatever 

 might have been my doubts before as to my friend's 

 assertion that game was afoot, they were now dissi- 

 pated; for, true enough, the deep voice of a hound 

 could be distinctly heard resounding through the 



