336 . AMERICAN GAME. 
scattered away, and dropped, more or less severely hurt, 
over the clear waters of the bright, sunny lake; while 
the main body, or what was left of it, settled down and 
was marked by the Indians, on our course toward 
Orillia. Some considerable time was occupied in taking 
the cripples; which were all dispersed, and which swam 
away rapidly as the canoes approached them, none of 
them making any attempt at rising again on the wing, 
seldom diving except when very hard pressed, and then 
only for a little time and short distance. 
When the wounded were all fairly brought to bag, the 
Indians were in great glee, and asserted that they could 
paddle us upon them all; which I should have been 
inclined to doubt, had I not learned how very rarely an 
Indian hazards an assertion of which he is not perfectly 
well assured, especially to a white man; for the duck lay 
full-in bright water, in the middle of the lake, which 
was as clear and smooth asa piece of glass, with a bright 
sun shining; and our canoes were large and full of men; 
nor was there a particle of wild-rice or sedge whereby to 
cover our approaches. 
Nevertheless, An-oon-ge-zhig, or the “Starry-Sky,” 
for so was our principal conductor styled, made his 
prophesy good ; for he did paddle us directly on the birds, 
and we slaughtered them, as they sat on the water with- 
out offering to fly at our approach, until we had bagged 
the greater part of the whole plump. . 
On the following day, having attained the limit of our 
