18 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



ear to the ground, and remained in that ludicrous and 

 ungraceful position for some minutes, exciting greatly 

 my curiosity. On asking him for an explanation, 

 naught but a grunt could I get for art answer, and a 

 non-describable wave of the hand, as if to invoke 

 silence. After manoeuvring thus, my nearly exhausted 

 patience received the explanation that one of the hounds 

 was running a deer, and that they were coming this 

 way. Immediately afterwards I was bundled into a 

 canoe, and although I had never previously handled a 

 paddle, was now forced to take one of those implements 

 and attempt a trial ; but no use the obstinate com- 

 position of birch bark would only spin round and make 

 most indisputable signs of objection to its freight, which 

 were manifested by the gunwale several times taking 

 in water and almost upsetting, so that my now irate 

 companion almost got out of his wits with rage. At 

 length I attained a slight dexterity, and succeeded, 

 assisted by the skilful steering of the Chippewa, in 

 propelling our frail boat under a cedar that grew on 

 the termination of a promontory. Whatever might 

 have been my doubts before as to my friend's assertion 

 that game was afoot, they were now dissipated; for, 

 true enough, the deep voice of a hound could be 

 distinctly heard resounding through the forest, and 

 coming towards us; every bound the good hound spoke, 



