134 I GO A-FISHING. 



rip that covered the surface, and no one but a hunter 

 would have known that it was a deer, swimming with the 

 tip of his nose and half his head out of water or her 

 nose and her head, for in this case it proved to be a doe. 



The sportsman in the boat with the guide who had first 

 seen the game had, as it turned out, a rifle that would 

 not go off, and, after vain snapping, the guide paddled 

 swiftly up and overtook the frightened doe, who, as soon 

 as she saw her pursuer, had turned for the shore she had 

 left. 



The sportsman intercepted her flight, and then pro- 

 ceeded to belabor the poor animal's head with a paddle, 

 and force her under water. The battle was by no means 

 well fought on his side, and the guide was obliged con- 

 stantly to use his paddle in the water and "surround" the 

 poor frightened doe, who was steadily nearing the shore 

 notwithstanding all his efforts. 



But now the other two boats came up and joined the 

 fray, and the murder was accomplished more artistically. 

 One guide dashed in adroitly and seized the body of the 

 doe so as to throw her up in the water, and enable him 

 to catch her by the tail. This was necessary to prevent 

 her sinking when the other should dispatch her; for at 

 certain seasons, and in certain conditions of the venison, 

 the deer will not float in water, but goes down like a 

 stone. 



This point secured, he held her by the tail, and then it 

 was easy for his sportsman to blow her brains out with 

 his rifle. 



This, on my word, is the manner in which nine deer 

 out of ten that are killed, in the Adirondacks are mur- 

 dered ; unless, perhaps, I should except from the count 

 those that are drowned with the birch withes. For it is 



