hat the prize was safely his own. The trembling
and unresisting animal appeared to be as perfectly submissive as a
sheep in the hands of the shearer.

"You have it, sure enough!" said Glenn, coming up and viewing the
scene with interest.

"Lash me if I haven't!" said Joe, much excited. "Have you got any sort
of a string about you?"

"No."

"Please cut down a hickory withe, and peel the bark off for me, while
I hold its legs."

Glenn drew out his hunting knife, but paused when in the act of
executing his man's request, and turning, with a smile playing upon
his lip, said--

"Perhaps, Joe, this is but another dream; and if so, it is folly to
give ourselves any unnecessary trouble."

"Lash me if it ain't reality!" replied Joe, as the deer at length
began to struggle violently.

Extricating its feet from his grasp, the doe bestowed a well directed
kick on its foe's head, which tumbled him over on his back. The animal
then sprang up, but aware there was no chance of escape by running,
faced about and plied its bony head so furiously against Joe's breast
and sides that he was forced to scamper away with all possible
expedition.

"Has it bruised you, Joe? If so, this is certainly no dream," remarked
Glenn.

"Oh, goodness! I'm battered almost to a jelly. I'll take my oath
there's no dreaming about this. Let me go after Ringwood and Jowler."

"It would be too cruel to let the hounds tear the poor thing," said
Glenn; "but after you have bound its feet together, you may bring out
one of the horses and a sled, and convey it home unhurt."

"The horses can't go in this deep snow," said Joe.

"True, I forgot that. Take your musket and shoot it," said Glenn,
turning away, not wishing to witness the death of the deer.

"I'd rather take him prisoner," said Joe, lowering his musket after
taking a long aim. "I can drag it on the sled myself."

"Then go for it," said Glenn; "and you may bring the hounds along; I
will exercise them a little after that fox which keeps such a
chattering in the next grove. But first let us secure the deer."

Joe charged upon the doe once more, and when it aimed another blow at
him, he threw himself under its body, and the animal falling over on
its side, the combined efforts of the men sufficed to bind its feet.
Joe then went to the house for the hounds and the sled, and Glenn
leant against the oak, awaiting his return. It was not long before the
hounds arrived, which was soon succeeded by