34 HILLS AND LAKES. 



and hid themselves among the weeds and willows 

 along the shore. 



We "lay to" under the cool shadow of a huge fir 

 tree that leaned out from the rocks, to rest awhile 

 rrom our labor, and to enjoy the beauty of the scenery 

 around us. I had just lighted a Havanna, and was 

 giving its "perfume to the breeze," when, from a 

 point just ahead of us, we saw a fine deer step into 

 the lake, and after stooping his head to drink, wade 

 forward and strike out, apparently for the opposite 

 shore. It would seem that he preferred swimming 

 across, to a journey around the lake. We waited 

 until he had got so far from the shore that we could 

 cut him off from returning to it, and then put out in 

 chase of him. The lake was entirely calm ; not a 

 ripple disturbed its glassy surface, save the long wake 

 in the rear of the deer himself. Hearing the sound 

 of our paddles, he turned his head and discovered us. 

 For a moment he seemed to hesitate as to what course 

 tq take ; he looked first in one direction, then in 

 another, as if to ascertain the surest point of escape. 

 We were now between him and the shore, and he 

 struck boldly forward. Our vessel was a clumsy as 

 well as a frail one, and we gained on him but slowly, 



