186 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



for my father's exploit with the rats at the two- 

 inch auger-hole ? What did the family grip 

 amount to after all ? I was fast losing sight of 

 the connection such vanities sustained to me. I 

 was undergoing a rapid change in many respects, 

 — of body as well as mind ! When I got hold of 

 that deer's leg, I was mentally full of pluck and 

 hope; my hunting-coat, of Irish corduroy, was 

 whole and tightly buttoned. Now, mentally, I 

 was demoralized ; every button was gone from 

 the coat, and the right sleeve hung disconnected 

 with the body of the garment. The jack had been 

 jerked from my head, and lay a rod off in the 

 marsh-grass. I could hold on no longer. I would 

 make one more effort, one more appeal. I did. 

 " Martin," said I, " are n't you ever going to get 

 out of that boat ? " 



The heavy thug of the boat against the bank, an 

 explosive and sputtering noise which sounded very 

 much like the word " damn " spoken from between 

 shut teeth, a splash, a scramble, and then I caught 

 sight of the gaunt form of Martin, paddle in hand 

 and hunting-knife between his teeth, loping along 

 toward me, through the tall, rank grass. But, 

 alas ! it was too late. The auspicious moment 

 had passed. My fingers one by one loosened 

 their hold, and the deer, gathering all his strength, 

 with a terrific elevation of his hind feet sent me 

 reeling backward, just as Martin, doubled up into 



