528 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



dogs to drive tlie deer, was first taken across the lake with 

 his two dogs, and landed. George, who was now beginning 

 to develope new traits, which we afterwards found rather 

 characteristic of the professional guide among the lakes, 

 then brought back the boat for us. There were two islands 

 in the lake, a mile and a half long, and we were to stand 

 upon the larger one. At least, so Master George insisted. 

 He, in the boat, alone, was to undertake to drive the accomo- 

 dating deer that might swim into the lake, along up to us, to 

 be shot. A delectable plan, truly ! We were to stand, like 

 two innocents, on the island, to enjoy the sport of seeing 

 our guide chase and capture all the deer that came in. I 

 instantly perceived that this was one of the knavish tricks 

 of the guide, who, having in some such way laid the trouble- 

 some sportsman on the shelf, quietly monopolizes all the fun 

 to himself. I now began to obtain some insight into this 

 same Master George, in whom I fondly hoped I had found that 

 paragon — an honest guide. I would not stand this impudent 

 trick, of course, since I paid the fellow for ministering to my 

 amusement, not his own. The pretence was, that the boat, 

 with two in it, would be too much freighted for the swift 

 rowing necessary for overtaking the deer. And good, easy 

 Piscator, eager as he was to retrieve his lost ground, and 

 immortalize himself in the world of his own self-content, by 

 killing the first deer, would insist that George must be right, 

 as it was his business to know better than we. 



I insisted that he did not know better, and that it was 

 sheer knavery in him, and so indignantly urged it, that 

 Piscator was persuaded at last ; and as I surrendered the 

 first chance to him — he was to take his seat first in the boat. 

 I now left them, and took my stand on the other end of the 

 island. Soon all was perfect silence again, broken only at 

 intervals by the clarion-like whoop of the troubled loons. I 

 watched two of them, which, as I lay upon the moss, could see 

 me only indistinctly, and urged by their strong cui-iosity, 



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