Now we had a cargo on board. Though we exerted ourselves to the utmost,
we made but slow progress, till Martin proposed that we should pull up
near the right bank, where the current appeared to run with less
strength.

Neither of our companions appearing, it did not seem that we need be in
any great hurry until we observed that the sun had sunk low, and that,
before long, darkness would come on; still, as we were doing our best,
we could do no more. We at last got up some way above the spot where we
had seen the deer, and after relaxing our efforts for a minute or two to
regain strength, we directed the canoe straight across the stream. We
hoped, as we drew near the left bank, that Alick and Robin would make
their appearance, and we began to be somewhat anxious at not seeing
them.

"They were probably induced to follow the deer farther than they
intended," observed Martin, "and perhaps, hearing our shots, may have
gone down the river; and if so, we might have saved ourselves our
fatiguing paddle."

On looking along the bank, however, as we could nowhere see them we
finally paddled in for the shore, and very glad we were to reach a spot
where we could rest. Throwing the painter round the branch of a tree
which projected over the water, we hung on to it to wait for our
companions' return. We shouted to them to attract their attention, but
no answer came, and we were unwilling to expend a charge of powder by
firing a signal, as our stock was limited, and it was necessary to
husband it as much as possible.

The shades of evening were already extending across the river, the
bright reflection from the clouds gradually giving place to a uniform
grey tint, which soon spread over the whole surface. Martin proposed
that we should land and light a fire to cook our venison, for neither of
us fancied having to spend the night cramped up in a canoe.

"Let us first give another shout. Perhaps they'll hear it, and know
where we are," I said.

We hailed two or three times. At last, as there was only just
sufficient light to enable us to see our way, we paddled up to the bank,
unloaded our canoe, and hauled her up. We then piled up the venison,
covering it over with the deerskin, lighted a fire, and began cooking
some steaks. We were thus engaged when we heard a rustling in the
brushwood. We started up with our guns in our hands, expecting to see a
deer or bear, when Bouncer came rushing towards us, leaping up and
lic