36 AN APPROVED PLAN. 



Overhead was a sky of the deepest blue, in which 

 floated a few light clouds, that hardly dimmed the sun 

 whenever they interposed between him and the earth. 

 It was one of those days in the first half of summer 

 when all nature seems buoyant, and filled with glad- 

 ness at the departure of dark and sterile winter. The 

 air was deliciously warm ; and whenever a light breeze 

 blew from the forest, the hunters perceived the aro- 

 matic fragrance of the pines whose shadows darkened 

 the water near the banks, and the serrated outlines of 

 whose summits were relieved against the sky. 



The boat had now approached a bend in the stream 

 formed by a projecting tongue of land, which was 

 clothed to the point with a thick growth of firs. Pierre, 

 who had often journeyed by this route, cautioned the 

 party to have their rifles ready, as he considered it very 

 probable that several deer would be seen feeding along 

 the banks of the next reach, which were bare of trees. 



" I guess this coon knows a likelier trick than that,'' 

 cried old Jake. "Jest let us land this side o' yonder 

 p'int, an' still-hunt the critturs from the cover of the 

 timber." 



As this plan met the approval of Pierre and Gaul- 

 tier, the three hunters accordingly landed ; and having 

 secured the canoe, they looked to their rifles, and in 

 Indian file entered the forest. The distance across the 

 promontory was not more than one hundred yards, and 

 the trappers soon reached a position from which they 

 could obtain a good view down the lower reach of the 



