HUNTING THE DEER. 211 



The Irishman, Samuel Patrick O'Donoghue by name, 

 more generally known by abbreviation as " Pat," was the 

 landlord of a tavern, which supplied food and liquor to a 

 company of workmen engaged in opening up a quicksilver 

 mine for a citizen of Boston. Partly on this resource, 

 and partly on the produce of the chase, lived Master Pat, 

 who was justly esteemed the most skilful sportsman in 

 the country-side. 



" Good day, Mr. Eustace; good day, sirs," he exclaimed, 

 lifting his foxskin cap, the tail of which, falling over his 

 head, resembled the tassel to a life-guard's helmet. " Wel- 

 come, master ! You have arrived in the very nick of 

 time. I was exploring the wood this morning, and found, 

 at about an hour's journey from here, in the bushes of 

 the ' Devil's Hole/ three troops of deer, numbering at 

 least a score of heads." 



While Pat announced these welcome tidings, David, 

 who had moored his boat, brought our game-bags in one 

 hand, and in the other the lanterns manufactured by Mr. 

 Eustace's locksmith. 



"Bravo !" cried Pat, overcome with joy at the sight of 

 the two tin utensils painted black ; " bravo ! this will be 

 a jolly affair ! We will just show your friend how we 

 hunt the deer in this part of the country ! " 



" Good, but not a word more ! I want to surprise 

 my French friend here; so, Pat, keep the secret until 

 evening. Shut your mouth, or talk about something 

 else." 



"All right," shouted the innkeeper; and without 

 another word he entered the interior of his hut, took 

 down his gun, whistled for his two hounds, and then pre- 

 ceded us along a narrow pathway which led into the heart 



