One Deer. 181 



wounded along the shore somewhere, 

 when, with a great snapping of branches 

 and splashing of water, the red fellow 

 sprang out of a windfall into the lake and 

 started to swim for a little island near by. 

 Dick jumped into the bow, and I pulled 

 the oars with a vengeance, not daring to 

 look around, but guided by the hoarse 

 breathing of the panting deer as he swam. 

 Rapidly we neared him, and just as Dick 

 called out " Right oar, quick!" the boat 

 gave a lurch, and I knew that he had our 

 game by the tail. At that moment the 

 handles of the oars came against my ab- 

 domen with a jerk and pressed so hard 

 that I could n't catch a breath for the life 

 of me. " Hold up, Dick!" I gasped. 

 " For H-e-a-v-e-n-'s s-a-k-e hold up ! " 

 The oars kept pressing so hard that I 

 could not get out another word, until 

 Dick, roaring with laughter, reached 

 around and threw one of the oars out of 

 its rowlock. In my excitement I had for- 

 gotten that Dick was not the motive 

 power at the bow, and that the fast 

 swimming buck was the cause of bring- 



