THE CHASE. 399 



air stirs a leaf upon the trees, when everything is dry, and every 

 leaf will rustle, and every twig will snap under the lightest step, 

 and day after day of diligent toil has failed of a single sight of 

 game ; when the larder is low, and you are thrown back upon 

 your reserved stores of pork or bacon, even if any of this be left, 

 then you are ready to go jack-hunting. This is done upon a 

 river or a lakelet. Along the margins of these in shallow waters 

 grasses grow (yallisneria — deer grass, tape grass), of which 

 the deer are very fond, for which they make nocturnal visits to 

 favorite places. By previous examination these localities are 

 easily discovered. This must be done by water, for the footsteps 

 of men along the shore would be detected by the keen-scented 

 animal, when he would leave in haste. A light boat or canoe, 

 which must be paddled, not rowed, and an expert Indian at 

 the paddle, is much to be desired. A light is carried upon the 

 head. Various devices have been invented for this light, called 

 jacks^ but a watchman's lamp, attached to the front of a fire- 

 man's leather hat, answers the purpose well. The light should 

 be covered by a leather shield, or cap, which can be removed and 

 replaced instantly and without the least noise. This must be so 

 adjusted that the light falls upon the gun barrel for its whole 

 length when the aim is being taken, and at all times when not 

 covered throws a strong light ahead. A dark, still night is desir- 

 able for this spoj't. 



The hunter is seated near the prow of the canoe, and the 

 paddler in the stern. If in a river it should be where the cur- 

 rent is gentle, and unless it is a large river the canoe is allowed 

 to float down in mid-channel ; if in a lake the canoe is gently 

 paddled along within from one to two hundred yards of the 

 shore. Everything is profoundly still, both listening, to hear the 

 deer come into the water at their favorite places. In a still 

 night this may be detected by the quick ear of the Indian two 

 or three hundred yards away. When the step of the deer 

 in the water is heard the Indian quickly turns the canoe to 

 the point whence the sound is heard, and the hunter removes 

 the cap from his light, if it has been concealed, and instantly a 

 strong column of light is thrown ahead till it is lost in the gloom 

 beyond. Presently, two balls of light are seen. These are the 

 eyes of the deer reflecting back the light of the lamp. The deer 

 seems to take no notice of the rapidly approaching light, but the 

 head is alternately elevated and depressed in the act of feeding, 

 though I have been at a loss to conceive how we could get the 



