CARIACUS VIRGINIANUS. I 27 



expectation is at its highest pitch ; he feels his heart beat faster 

 and faster, and grasps his gun tighter and tighter, imagining that 

 each fantastic shadow will show the white tail of a retreating buck. 

 The suspense is of short duration, for this feeding-ground is 

 passed without so much as the sound of a moving branch to indi- 

 cate the presence of any animal larger than the flies that swarm 

 about his head. Now comes a pull of half a mile before the next 

 ground is reached, which would afford the sportsman ample time to 

 compose himself, were it not for the armies of pestiferous flies and 

 mosquitoes that demand, and receive, his undivided attention. The 

 bottle of tar oil is produced, and a thorough smearing grants 

 temporary respite. No sooner is this accomplished than the next 

 favorable shore for Deer is fast appearing over the port bow. 

 Another ten minutes of breathless suspense and they turn again 

 into the open lake. A close listener might have detected a half 

 suppressed sigh of submission to the inevitable, from the fore part 

 of the boat, but no other sound disturbs the unbroken silence of 

 the night. The third swampy bay is reached and passed, with 

 like result. A council ensues, in a low whisper, and it is decided 

 to run up the inlet, a marshy stream averaging less than a boat's 

 length in width. Having arrived at its mouth they proceed very 

 slowly, for good feed abounds on both banks, and a Deer may 

 be surprised at any moment. Presently a noise is heard ahead : it 

 is vague and indefinite, but evidently something moving. The 

 boat comes nearer; the noise ceases ; it is heard again. The sight 

 is strained to penetrate the bushes along the shore, but nothing is 

 discovered. Hark ! something dripping in the water; the eyes 

 are lowered, and there, on a log that projects into the stream, 

 almost within reach from the bow, is seen the form of a large 

 porcupine, lazily eating lily-pads and gazing stupidly at the light. 

 The sportsman is tempted to fire, but controls his disgust and says 

 nothing. A bend in the tortuous channel is passed, and another, 

 and, — splash, splash, splash : it is the unmistakable sound of a 



