THE PLANTATION HOUSE OF " FAR AWAY." 43 



up bright anyhow,' he said, in a low self-satisfied tone, as he pro- 

 ceeded to load his gun, ' only to get blown out.' 



" ' Hadn't you better secure your game before loading ? ' 



"'Ha! ha!' said he, 'that fellow will not leave there until 

 there is another set of legs under him. But come, I 'm ready.' 



" So saying, we started in the direction of our prize ; when, to 

 our no little joy and surprise, we beheld another blue light appa- 

 rently just beyond the spot where lay our fallen deer. Stockton 

 again fired, and out went the light. 



" ' I first shot the doe,' he remarked, while deliberately loading 

 his rifle, ' and the buck would not leave her.' 



" Again we started, but had not taken a dozen steps, when lo ! 

 and behold, another eye appeared. 



" ' It 's deuced strange,' said Stockton quickly, as he raised his 

 gun to his shoulder, ' that I have seen hut one eye each time.' 



" ' Perhaps they have all accidentally been standing sidewise 

 to you,' I replied. 



" ' Side or front,' he answered, ' I '11 black that fellow's eye for 

 him.' Crack went the rifle, and down went the eye. We had 

 now arrived at the place where we supposed the first deer to have 

 fallen, and made search for it, but nowhere was the game to be 

 found. 



" Turning from the place, imagine our surprise at again behold- 

 ing that single fiery ball glaring upon us with the same identical 

 motion of the others. Stockton mechanically raised his rifle, but 

 paused as he did so. As for me, nothing prevented my throwing 

 down the fire-pan and giving ' leg-bail ' but the disagreeable cer- 

 tainty of not being able to retrace my steps. I ran back in 

 memory to childhood's hours, and recalled the old nursery tales 

 I had heard of bears, lions, and hobgoblins, until I was satisfied 

 beyond a doubt that Stockton had been shooting at the devil ! 

 I was, however, aroused from my reverie by his exclaiming, ' Ha ! 

 I am a pretty fool. Something is the matter with my rifle, and 

 I 've been shooting all this time at the same deer ! Here, give me 

 yours.' I did so, but could not help thinking that the deer was a 

 greater fool by far if he had stood to so many shots. 



" The eye was now hid behind some bushes, but soon appeared 



