airly jumped in my hand. Listening, there
came the crackling of a limb, followed by a sound as of something
walking in shallow water. It proceeded from the other end of the lake,
over against our camp. On we sped, noiselessly as ever, but with
increased velocity. Presently, with a thrill of new intensity, I saw
the boat was gradually heading in that direction. Now, to a sportsman
who gets excited over a gray squirrel, and forgets that he has a gun
on the sudden appearance of a fox, this was a severe trial. I suddenly
felt cramped for room, and trimming the boat was out of the question.
It seemed that I must make some noise in spite of myself. "Light the
jack," said a soft whisper behind me. I fumbled nervously for a match,
and dropped the first one. Another was drawn briskly across my knee
and broke. A third lighted, but went out prematurely, in my haste to
get it to the jack. What would I not have given to see those wicks
blaze! We were fast nearing the shore,--already the lily-pads began to
brush along the bottom. Another attempt, and the light took. The
gentle motion fanned the blaze, and in a moment a broad glare of light
fell upon the water in front of us, while the boat remained in utter
darkness.

By this time I had got beyond the nervous point, and had come round to
perfect coolness and composure again, but preternaturally vigilant and
keen. I was ready for any disclosures; not a sound was heard. In a few
moments the trees alongshore were faintly visible. Every object put on
the shape of a gigantic deer. A large rock looked just ready to bound
away. The dry limbs of a prostrate tree were surely his antlers.

But what are those two luminous spots? Need the reader be told what
they were? In a moment the head of a real deer became outlined; then
his neck and foreshoulders; then his whole body. There he stood, up to
his knees in the water, gazing fixedly at us, apparently arrested in
the movement of putting his head down for a lily-pad, and evidently
thinking it was some new-fangled moon sporting about there. "Let him
have it," said my prompter,--and the crash came. There was a scuffle
in the water, and a plunge in the woods. "He's gone," said I. "Wait a
moment," said the guide, "and I will show you." Rapidly running the
canoe ashore, we sprang out, and, holding the jack aloft, explored the
vicinity by its light. There, over the logs and brush, I caught the
glimmer of those luminous spots again. But, poor thing! t