184 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



finitesimal parts in all directions, like fragments 

 of an exi^loding buzz-wheel, and you have my 

 appearance and feelings as I was jerked about 

 that night amid the mire and marsh-grass, as I 

 clung to the leg of that deer. Now, when I fas- 

 ten to anything, I always expect to hold on. 

 This was my determination when I put my fin- 

 gers round that buck's leg. I have a tremendous 

 grip. My father had before me. With his hands 

 at a two-inch auger-hole in the head of a barrel, I 

 have seen him clutch, now with his right, now with 

 his left hand, twenty-two house-rats as they came 

 darting out to escape the stick with which I was 

 stirring them up, and dash them dead upon the 

 floor, without getting a single bite ; and everybody 

 knows that a rat, in full bolt, comes out of a barrel 

 like a flash of lightning. I fully expected to main- 

 tain the family ^res%c for grip. I did. I stuck 

 to that deer with all my power of arm and will. I 

 felt it to be a sort of personal contest between him 

 and myself. Nevertheless, I was perfectly willing 

 at any time to let go. I had undertaken the job at 

 the request of another, and was ready to surrender 

 it instantly upon demand. I shouted to Martin to 

 get out of that boat mighty quick if he wanted to 

 take his deer home, for I should n't hold on to him 

 much longer. It took me about two minutes to de- 

 liver that sentence. It was literally jerked out of 

 me, word by word. Never did I labor under greater 



