140 THE ADIRONDACK. 



past, and crack went the rifle of W— d. He missed, 

 and again our skiff was rapidly dividing the waves 

 before her, while in scarcely more time than I have 

 been relating it, another ball was in my gun, and 

 I exclaimed, "Now, Mitchell, as we approach him, 

 throw the head of the boat on the wave* so the 

 motion shall be steady, and if I miss him I will 

 fling my rifle into the lake." As we came up, a 

 single stroke of the oar sent her round, and as she 

 rose and fell on the short sea, I "watched my time" 

 and pulled. A desperate plunge and a bloody streak 

 upon the water, told that the bullet had found the 

 life-blood. Struggle on, bold fellow, but your life 

 is reached, and never again shall your foot press 

 the mountain-side! Just then another shot struck 

 the water close by our boat, glanced, and also en- 

 tered the deer. He bowed his antlered head in the 

 waves, and turned over on his side, while the short, 

 convulsive efforts told of his death agony. A few 

 strokes of the oar, and our boat lay alongside — the 

 knife of the Indian entered his throat, and the deed 

 was done. I raised him by the horns, and towed 

 him slowly along toward the shore. The excitement 



