A DRIVEN DEER 



79 



lid 

 Ion 



assured, to entertain company with, so, to remedy that 

 defect, I took down my gun, called my doj, and 

 dismissed Joe to his village a shilling richer. 



The season was early in October, and never in my 

 life have I seen the foliage more brilliantly tinted, the 

 water so transparent, and the atmosphere so still and 

 clear. 



My tramp over a hardwood ridge was suffi- 

 cient to build up a stock of health for at least a 

 future year. All animated nature seemed to be 

 similarly affected, for the wood birds whistled and 

 warbled as if desirous of expressing the excess of 

 their happiness. 



At length I arrived at my demesne ; before 

 entering it I loaded with No. 5, so as to make certain 

 of what ducks I came across, as the snipe would not 

 leave the locality until they had been several times 

 disturbe ' It was a grand rich feeding ground for 

 these lonp^-biHs, and well the little beauties knew 

 that - ^ v^as not such another within several 

 miles. 



I commenced well — a mallard and duck fell 

 almost immediately to my right and left barrel. 

 Next, a sheldrake ; after, a black duck, and so on 

 and so on. But a mellow, deep note fell on my ear ; 

 again and again it was repeated, and evidently 

 getting closer. What it was I at once understood : 

 hunters were driving deer on the other side of the 

 inlet. The opposite shore was little more than four 

 hundred yards distant from where I stood, and every 

 chance was in my favour that their game, if hard 

 pressed, would take the water and make for my side. 

 If such were the case I should see the hunted animal 

 in time to change my load ; if not why, n'imporie. 

 I love the voice of a deep-mouthed hound, and, 

 possibly, never does it sound more melodious than 

 when heard m the heavy-timbered forest. Uncon- 

 sciously, I became all eyes and ears for what was 



