94 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



to the ground, build a good fire, and leave him there while 

 I go for a horse and sled on which to carry him home." 



I was soon agreeably disappointed, however ; for as I 

 name in sight of him, I observed him lying on his back, 

 with his knees drawn up toward his face, and his great 

 snow-shoes turned up to the sun ; the snow having drifted 

 so deep in the hollow that he could not touch bottom with 

 his hands. Before him stood one of the largest bucks, 

 with his tail spread, and all his hair bristled up, watching 

 poor Louis ; and every time he moved the buck would 

 spring on him, and beat him over the head and face with 

 his feet until Louis became quiet again ; when the buck 

 would take his stand again until my friend made another 

 move ; and then he would repeat the same performance. 



It seems that, after I had passed the buck which had 

 hid under the log, and the animal had recovered his breath, 

 Louis came on him suddenly, not knowing the deer was 

 there. He ran so near that the buck sprang at him, throw- 

 ing him backwards into the deep snow ; and every time he 

 would attempt to rise he would again sink down, when the 

 buck would attack and beat him until he lay still. 



How often the buck had repeated this chastisement be- 

 fore I came in sight, I do not know ; but when I first saw 

 them Louis was lying motionless, but hallooing vocife- 

 rously for help. Standing, as I was, on the rocks above 

 them, the fun appeared so fine that I could not help him 

 for laughing. He made several attempts to rise, ))ut in 

 vain ; the buck giving him a beating at every move, until 

 Vansickle was furious with rage. He swore that I in- 

 tended to let him freeze to death in the snow ; that it was 

 but death any way ; and that he would get out of that place 

 or lose his life in the trial. 



He made another move, and, as the buck sprang on 

 him, and commenced beating him again, he reached up, 

 and first passed '^ne arm around the animal's neck, and 



