A HUNTER'S ELYSIUM. 259 



mothers frequently raising their eyes from their 

 morning repast with maternal solicitude for their 

 progenies' safety. What sportsman could witness 

 such a scene without feelings of the greatest pleasure ? 

 and, in my opinion, unless hunger could be pleaded, 

 he would be unworthy of the name who could dese- 

 crate the hallowedness and peacefulness of the view by 

 wantonly shedding blood. Long I gazed with feel- 

 ings of rapture, congratulating myself in having at 

 last discovered a hunter's elysium. Uncertainty in 

 reference to my position had vanished, as without 

 trouble, by following the margin of the water, I could 

 find my back track. At last hunger told me it was 

 time to think of home and breakfast. An hour after 

 found me in my bedroom undergoing the luxury of a 

 good wash, preparatory to an ample meal. My friend, 

 who was rejoiced to see me, having dreaded the incon- 

 venience of hunting me up, listened with great plea- 

 sure to my glowing, and, perhaps, unintentionally 

 exaggerated description of all I had seen and en- 

 dured. On one point, however, we were resolved 

 an immediate visit to the beautiful locality I had so 

 lately left. Before a month had elapsed many visits 

 had been paid, and heavy game bags, or still heavier 

 fish baskets, were the result. Game is still abundant 

 near the region where my night adventure took place, 

 but like every locality, the hunter will have to proceed 

 a little farther beyond the bounds of civilisation ; for 

 as certain as the red man vanishes before the pro- 

 gress of the stream of emigration, or the morning 

 mists before the gladdening rays of the rising sun, 

 does game before the dreaded sound of the squatter's 

 axe, or the sharp report of the deadly rifle. 



s 2 



