104 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



gallant stag had subsided to a neat shoulder- shot, I was 

 graciously awarded a solution of the situation in which I 

 discovered him. 



" I was singing the l Old Hundred,' and I was in prime 

 voice ; and didn't the echoes take it up rejoicingly ! for 

 you see it is the first time that this benighted heathen 

 land has heard the voice of a Christian, when that beast 

 the emissary of the evil one, doubtless without a bit of 

 provocation, came ramping at me. There was no mistake 

 in his intentions, for his eyes were bleared, and I could see 

 he was panting for my blood. So I thinks of my weapon ; 

 but in my hurry to let it off, I forgot to fetch it to my 

 cheek ; so you see it was a merciful interposition of Provi- 

 dence that caused the charge to go straight;" and, looking 

 at the carcass, he spoke a soliloquy about the children of 

 darkness ever succumbing to the children of light. 



If he had got the weapon to his cheek, our worthy friend 

 would doubtless have missed the stag, which from its ap- 

 pearance was rutting, and, like all the deer family when in 

 that state, exceedingly dangerous. 



A month's residence with the New England school-mas- 

 ter gave a considerable insight into his character. He was 

 always trying to be good, very good, unless when temptation 

 came in his way ; and one of these, which he could not re- 

 sist, was to cheat at cards. At it I again and again detected 

 him, lectured him in consequence, asserting I would not 

 play further with him if it re-occurred, and in the very 

 next deal he would be guilty of the same malpractices ; so 

 at length we both agreed, our stakes being nil, to cheat our 

 darndest ; and from that time forth to see how right and 

 left bowers, aces, and kings, used to be turned up in that 

 peaceful, sequestered valley, was something awful, and that 

 often to the tune of the " Old Hundred." 



During the rutting season terrific combats take place be- 



