might
approach the deer without being observed. "We should be afther keeping
to windward; but when there is no wind, sure it's a difficult matter to
say which side to pull," whispered Tim to me.

We selected the side from which a point projected thickly covered with
long grass; and on rounding it, we expected to be close to where the
deer were standing. We roused numberless water-fowl, many of
magnificent plumage; and I saw Lejoillie lift his rifle, as if inclined
to fire.

"If you do, we shall miss the deer, to a certainty," observed my father.
"The birds will stay for us until we come back, so that we can bag them
by-and-by."

I kept my rifle by my side, ready for service. We rowed on, now and
then knocking a young alligator on the nose as he popped his ugly head
out of the water to have a look at us.

"Faith it isn't a place I'd like to be capsized in," observed Tim in a
low whisper.

At length we got close to the end of the point. "Now, give way, boys,"
said my father; and we pulled round it as quickly as we could.

In another instant we were face to face with the deer, not thirty yards
away from us. I drew in my oars. The herd gazed at the boat a few
moments, giving us time to take a steady aim. My father hit the buck;
and the same instant I shot a doe, which had turned to fly, but dropped
before she had got many paces. Lejoillie wounded another; but,
notwithstanding, the animal went off with the rest of the herd.

Tim and I having resumed our oars, we pulled in to secure our prey.
Rushing in among the reeds, we sprang on shore, and quickly put out of
suffering the deer which had first fallen. Not to lose time, we carried
it to the boat, that it might be cut up on board. We were returning for
the other, when a number of figures, bursting out of the forest, rushed
towards us; some running to intercept the deer wounded by Lejoillie,
others bounding along in the direction of the one I had shot. A glance
showed us that they were red men, with feathers in their hair, their
leathern dresses ornamented with coloured beads and cloth.

"Shove off!" cried my father. "These fellows don't look very friendly;
and it will be as well to be out of their reach, until we see what
temper they are in."

Doing as he directed, we pulled the boat a short distance away from the
shore, when the Indians, lifting the deer, carried it off, casting a
look of triumph behind them.

"Sure, that's pretty impudent, to carr