here was
little need of the second shot, which was the unkindest of all, for
the deer had already fallen to the ground, and was fast expiring. The
success was but a very indifferent one, after all, as the victim
turned out to be only an old doe, upon whom maternal cares had
evidently worn heavily during the summer.

This mode of taking deer is very novel and strange. The animal is
evidently fascinated or bewildered. It does not appear to be
frightened, but as if overwhelmed with amazement, or under the
influence of some spell. It is not sufficiently master of the
situation to be sensible of fear, or to think of escape by flight; and
the experiment, to be successful, must be tried quickly, before the
first feeling of bewilderment passes.

Witnessing the spectacle from the shore, I can conceive of nothing
more sudden or astounding. You see no movement and hear no noise, but
the light grows upon you, and stares and stares like a huge eye from
infernal regions.

According to the guide, when a deer has been played upon in this
manner and escaped, he is not to be fooled again a second time.
Mounting the shore, he gives a long signal snort, which alarms every
animal within hearing, and dashes away.

The sequel to the deer-shooting was a little sharp practice with a
revolver upon a rabbit, or properly a hare, which was so taken with
the spectacle of the camp-fire, and the sleeping figures lying about,
that it ventured quite up in our midst; but while testing the quality
of some condensed milk that sat uncovered at the foot of a large tree,
poor Lepus had his spine injured by a bullet.

Those who lodge with Nature find early rising quite in order. It is
our voluptuous beds, and isolation from the earth and the air, that
prevents us from emulating the birds and the beasts in this respect.
With the citizen in his chamber, it is not morning, but
breakfast-time. The camper-out, however, feels morning in the air, he
smells it, hears it, and springs up with the general awakening. None
were tardy at the row of white chips arranged on the trunk of a
prostrate tree, when breakfast was halloed; for we were all anxious to
try the venison. Few of us, however, took a second piece. It was black
and strong.

The day was warm and calm, and we loafed at leisure. The woods were
Nature's own. It was a luxury to ramble through them,--rank and shaggy
and venerable, but with an aspect singularly ripe and mellow. No fire
had consumed and n