hould be certain to
kill the game much more easily than his people could do with their bows
and arrows. A hunting-party was accordingly arranged for the next day,
on the shores of a lake some miles off. He had already transported a
couple of canoes to it, so that, should any of the deer take to the
water, we might be able to pursue them. Ashatea was much inclined to
come with us, but her father told her that she would be acting more like
an English girl if she would stay at home and attend to household
affairs.

We started the next morning with Kepenau, Kakaik, and several other
Indians, who carried long spears as well as bows and arrows. We were
also accompanied by a pack of dogs, well-trained by the Indians for
chasing the deer, though they were noisy, ill-looking curs.

We commenced our hunt at some distance from the shores of the lake, but
for an hour or more we saw no signs of deer, and Reuben and I began to
fancy that we should have to return home without venison.

We had separated from Kepenau, but now we heard his voice, and
immediately afterwards the dogs gave tongue. We were looking about to
ascertain in what direction to bend our steps, when a fine deer started
out from among the trees on our right into the open glade. My gun being
ready, I fired, and felt sure that I had wounded the deer; but the
animal still continued its course. The next instant the dogs appeared
from the same direction, in hot chase after the deer.

We followed, joined by Kepenau and the other men. Marks of blood on the
grass showed us that the deer had been wounded. Still, it might run,
should the dogs not overtake it, for several miles, and might escape us
after all. It was too valuable a prize to be lost, so we continued the
pursuit.

The country now became much more open, and we saw that the deer had made
its way across the plain. On the further side there were some lofty
pines, towards which the animal appeared to have directed its course.

We had been running on for several minutes, when, before I could
distinguish anything, the exclamations of the Indians showed me that the
deer was in sight; and presently I saw it standing at bay under the
trees, with the dogs yelping round it and preventing it from proceeding
further.

When I got within gun-shot, I stopped for a moment to reload my rifle;
and crying out to my friends not to get in the way, I again fired, and
the noble beast rolled over. Kakaik then dashed forw