w to the water's edge,
not many yards from where they were slowly floating along on the stream.

That there was something was very evident, for there were to be seen two
great shining eyes that, owing to the dense darkness around them, seemed
to be strangely large and brilliant.

"Will-o'-the-wisp," said Frank.

"Jack-o'-lantern," said Alec.

"A banshee," said Sam.

"A big deer," said Mustagan. "Keep still, and we will soon shoot him."

Quietly and quickly was a gun lifted up, and with a word to the men, to
steady, with their paddles, the canoe in which Mustagan was seated, he
fired, and the report was followed by the plunge of the body of a great
deer, as he fell headlong in the water not thirty yards away. The sound
of the gun broke the deathlike solitudes and aroused a chorus; and for a
long time the cry of the bittern and the loon mingled with the quacking
of ducks and the wakeful calls of the sentinel wild goose.

More torches were lit, and the body of the deer was secured with a rope;
and, as the night was far spent, it was decided to go ashore, if they
could find a safe place, and there rest until morning, as it was utterly
impossible with the heavy load of fish to think of returning through the
darkness with the additional weight of this splendid deer.

As closely as possible the three canoes had kept together. This made it
more sociable in the gloom, and was much enjoyed by the boys, as they
could thus freely chat with each other and watch each other's success or
failure.

As the locality was known to some of the Indians, a sheltered little
sandy beach was soon discovered, and here the now tired party drew up
and landed. A fire was speedily built, and a kettle of tea and a lunch
were prepared and enjoyed by the hungry ones. Then they quickly rolled
themselves up in their blankets, and were soon away in the land of
dreams. Nothing softer had they under them than the rocks, and no roof
over them but the starry heavens, yet they slept in a way that thousands
of excited, weary, restless ones, tossing about in comfortable beds,
might well envy, but could not command.

Very early were the boys aroused for the home trip, but, early as they
were up, the Indians had already skinned and cut up the deer, and
divided it among the boats. Part of the fish were given to some Indian
women and children who were encamped on some of the islands, near which
they passed on the route back to the camp.

Mr Ross wa