ADIRONDAC. 89 



only an old doe, upon whom maternal cares had evi- 

 dently worn heavily during the summer. 



This mode of taking deer is very novel and strange. 

 The animal is evidently fascinated or bewildered. It 

 does not appear to be frightened, but as if overwhelmed 

 with amazement, or under the influence of some spell. 

 It is not sufficiently master of the situation to be sen- 

 sible to fear, or to think of escape by flight ; and the 

 experiment, to be successful, must be done quickly, 

 before the first feeling of bewilderment passes. 



Witnessing the spectacle from the shore, I can con- 

 ceive of nothing more sudden or astounding. You see 

 no movement and hear no noise, but the light grows 

 upon you, and stares and stares like a huge eye from 

 the infernal regions. 



According to the guide, when a deer has been 

 played upon in this manner and escaped, he is not to 

 be fooled a second time. Mounting the shore, he 

 gives a long signal snort, which alarms every animal 

 within hearing, and dashes away. 



The sequel to the deer-shooting was a little sharp 

 practice with a revolver upon a rabbit, or properly a 

 hare, which was so taken with the spectacle of the 

 camp-fire, and the sleeping figures lying about, that it 

 ventured quite up in our midst; but while testing the 

 quality of some condensed milk that sat uncovered at 

 the foot of a large tree, poor Lepus had his spine in- 

 jured by a bullet. 



