CHAPTER VII 



IN THE FOREST 



THE morning of the 29th was fine and the 

 river was looking lovely in the brilliant sun- 

 shine. 



Just before the Indians with their canoes 

 arrived, a doe deer came down on to the shingle 

 across the river. As we required meat, neither 

 sex nor season was taken into consideration. 

 My rifle was not ready, so Smith had a shot 

 at about 120 yards and missed. I then had 

 a try and missed the deer, which stood without 

 moving, but with a second shot I brought her 

 down. In a moment " Nigger " was into the 

 river and across worrying the carcass what 

 for I could not understand, for the poor beast 

 was stone dead. It was lucky we secured this 

 meat, for it was the last we saw for many days ; 

 but we afterwards regretted our generosity 

 in leaving half the carcass behind as a present 

 to our host's family. 



On the arrival of the big Siwash canoe, with 

 two Indians to pole, we loaded up our kit and 

 at last were off on our trip. Smith went on 



89 



