110 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



equalled its predecessor in strength. At length, we 

 commenced gaining a further inducement to renewed 

 exertion and the paddle was dipped deeper and 

 handled still more swiftly. Inch hy inch we crept up, 

 at first slowly, then more rapidly, till but twenty yards 

 severed the victim and the destroyer. I was about to 

 drop my paddle and seize my gun, when Master Red- 

 skin informed me, " Not time yet ! " On we ad- 

 vanced; ten feet at most intervened. Mr. Chippewa 

 gave the desired permission, and as I pitched my gun 

 to the shoulder he veered the canoe a point or two to 

 the right. A sharp report followed, and the water 

 boiled with the ineffectual efforts of the stricken 

 animal. Quickly the birch bark was shot up, and just 

 as the deer was disappearing it was grabbed by the 

 ear, and after several ineffectual efforts lifted on board. 

 Know you, reader, that a dead deer will sink; and 

 although I remembered it not at the time of drawing 

 the trigger, my double-barrel was loaded with No. 6, 

 which at that short range, and pointed at the back of 

 the head, almost instantaneously destroyed vitality; 

 and, however easy it may be to lift a heavy body into 

 a boat, it is a different thing to bring a dead deer into 

 a birch canoe. 



On our way to shore we picked up the hound, which 

 was taken on board, and enjoyed himself by licking 

 the blood that trickled from the shot-holes. Feeling- 

 fatigued from my severe exertions, I halted for a few 

 moments, and commenced handling our trophy, when 

 the confounded dog flew at me, inflicting a most dis- 

 agreeable impression of his ivories on the palm of my 

 hand a habit I believe he had with all, excepting his 

 owner; which peculiarity, doubtless, was much ap- 



