158 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



try. The one I owned was killed by gas from the 

 furnace of our house. 



One winter while we New Yorkers were bring- 

 ing into requisition all modern appliances \vithin 

 our reach to ward off the cold waves that came 

 rolling over us from the mountains and plains of 

 solid ice of the northern frozen regions, while our 

 ears and noses, our fingers and toes were tingling 

 in the frosty air of midwinter, the crew of the good 

 ship Janet Ferguson were sweltering under the 

 burning rays of a tropical sun. The ship was on 

 her return trip from Singapore to New York with 

 a cargo of pepper and spices. When passing 

 through the Straits of Sunda she was met and sur- 

 rounded by the usual fleet of native bum boats 

 laden with fruits and curiosities. Among the mis- 

 cellaneous cargo of these sea peddlers' boats there 

 were some of the most graceful, 



BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CREATURES 



one could well imagine five full-grown live deer, 

 not larger than rabbits. The captain of the Janet 

 Ferguson, after some parley, succeeded in purchas- 

 ing them, giving in exchange an old silver watch. 

 The ship's carpenter soon built for them a con- 

 venient little house, about the dimensions of a 

 small dog house, with "Deer Lodge" neatly paint- 

 ed over the door, and in these comfortable quarters 

 the little midgets made in safety a voyage of 136 

 days, becoming great favorites with the crew. One 

 fawn was born during the trip, but when discov- 



