A NIGHT'S ADVENTURE. 11 



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 desecrate the hallowedness and peace- 

 fulness of the view by wantonly shedding blood. Long 

 I gazed with feelings of rapture, congratulating my- 

 self 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 inconvenience of hunting me up, listened 

 with great pleasure to my glowing, and, perhaps, 

 unintentionally exaggerated description of all I had 

 seen and endured. 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 in 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 civili- 



