A NIGHT S ADVENTURE. 5 



hermit, having built a house on the edge of one of 

 those lovely sheets of water embosomed in the forest 

 several miles further to the north than any of his 

 neighbours. Soon my troubles were all before him, 

 and he, with characteristic hospitality, offered me 

 accommodation for an indefinite period. Next morning 

 we were both en route for his solitary home, and never 

 shall I forget the feelings of pleasure and admiration 

 that rose in my bosom when first I beheld this charm- 

 ing retreat, situated on a bluff, washed by crystal 

 water, and backed by the handsomest varieties of forest 

 trees, truly looking to my mind the beau ideal of a 

 hunter's home. 



After being domesticated some weeks, from the 

 beauty of an afternoon and the coolness of the weather, 

 I was induced to shoulder my gun, and start cross 

 country to Lake St. John, with the hopes of killing 

 some ducks to add to the fare of our already sumptuous 

 table. I had never visited this place before, and as I 



left the clearing, the last words of H were, " Take 



care you do not get lost." With an amount of con- 

 fidence, "usually denoting ignorance," I responded 

 that I was too old to be guilty of such a green pro- 

 ceeding. With little trouble I found my destination. 

 Game was abundant and tame, they being overcome 

 with that languor which makes them perfectly indifferent, 



