CARIACUS VIRGINIANUS. 
29 
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 retreatingf 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 Hies 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 
