STRANGE CREATURES MET IN THE WATER 563 



ALL THE HUNTED CREATURES SEEM TO BE FOREVER 

 IN A HURRY, 



but I was surprised at the extreme rapidity with which 

 this rodent stripped and devoured the leaves from the 

 bushes. 



A couple of deer which came into the backyard of 

 my camp at Wild Lands fed in exactly the same rapid 

 manner; they also stripped the leaves from the small 

 bushes and devoured them so quickly that one would 

 think that these animals must all soon be victims of 

 chronic indigestion. 



While on the subject of the stealthy movements of 

 the deer, I am reminded of one cold, rainy day when, 

 being out of kerosene, we had drawn lots to see who 

 should take the walk of eight miles to the railroad sta- 

 tion to get the cans filled. With my usual luck I won 

 the opportunity for myself, and with my head down to 

 meet the storm, I was trudging along the muddy road, 

 the two cans for the kerosene banging together, making 

 a noise like a cow-bell. There was a big buck lying in 

 the bushes alongside of the road, but I had no knowl- 

 edge of its presence until I was. within ten feet of it, 

 and then surprise and astonishment almost caused me to 

 sit down in the muddy road when the animal gave a 

 mighty spring from its resting place and stood for an in- 

 stant before me. The next moment its body sank down 

 as low as that of a stealthy cat creeping on its prey, and 

 then the big buck glided away among the trees like a 

 shadow, without making the slightest noise. So quickly 

 did the deer disappear that for a few moments after 



