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 (vallisneria — 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 sport. 
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 
