84 HILLS AND LAKES. 



come to the water to feed. We were careful to select 

 a spot for our hiding-place, so situated that the breeze 

 would blow towards us, from the direction in which 

 we supposed they would enter the water to feed. 

 This is necessary, as the deer will otherwise scent the 

 hunter a long distance, and keep beyond the reach of 

 his rifle. We sat silent for perhaps half an hour, 

 watching, when an old buck walked cautiously from 

 the forest ; and stepped into the edge of the lake. 

 Here he paused, and looked in every direction about 

 him, and seeing that all was safe, waded out three or 

 four rods from the shore, and commenced feeding on 

 the stems of the pond-lilies. He was within fair range 

 of my rifle, but we let him feed on. Presently a doe 

 came down from the woods, in the same cautious man- 

 ner, and she, too, began to regale upon the rich pas- 

 ture that the lake afforded. We sat there until four 

 were quietly feeding, all in fair sight, and within 

 range of my rifle. Selecting a small one that, from 

 where I sat, seemed to be in the best case, I fired and 

 brought him down. The report of my rifle and the 

 smoke frightened the others hugely, and with a snort 

 they leaped from the water, and went crashing and 

 whistling up the mountains. The old buck didn't 



