the
opposite side of the lake to a point that Joe was approaching, (though
all unconscious of his destination,) and remained there till the poor
fellow pushed his half-submerged head against the grass, when he
seized him furiously and bore him a few paces from the water, in spite
of his cries and struggles.

"_I_ ain't the painter!" said Sneak, at length weary of the illusion,
and dragging Joe's hat from his head.

"Ha! hang it! ha!" cried Joe, staring at Sneak and Glenn in
bewilderment. "Where is it?" he cried, when in some degree recovered
from his great perturbation.

"Didn't you hear _me_ shoot? Of course its dead!" replied Sneak.

"Which do you prefer, Joe, _ducking_ or _fishing_?" asked Glenn.

"I never saw a feller _duck_ his head so," said Sneak.

"Ha! ha! ha! you thought I was frightened, and trying to get away from
the panther! But you were _much_ mistaken. I was chasing a muskrat--I
got wet in the river, and was determined to see--"

"You couldn't see your own nose!" interrupted Sneak.

[Illustration: He plunged forward, and executed a series of diving
evolutions.--P. 240]

"If I couldn't see, I suppose I could hear him run!" replied Joe.

"You couldn't 'ave heard thunder!" said Sneak.

"Did you ever try it?" asked Joe.

"No," replied Sneak.

"Then you don't know," replied Joe; "and now I'm ready to kill a
duck," he continued, looking up at a number of water-fowl sailing
round and awaiting their departure to dip into the water.

"I will leave you here, Joe. When you hear me fire at the other lake,
you may expect the ducks that escape me to visit you," observed Glenn,
and immediately after disappeared in the bushes.

"And I'll take the painter's hide off," said Sneak, going with Joe to
the blind, where he quietly commenced his labour, that Joe's sport
might not be interrupted.

Several flocks of geese and ducks yet flew round above, and gradually
drew nearer to the earth, but still fearful of danger and cautiously
reconnoitering the premises.

"Suppose I pink one of them on the wing?" said Joe, looking up.

"I don't believe you _kin_," said Sneak, as he tugged at the panther's
hide.

"Wait till they come round the next time, and I'll show you--so look
out," said Joe.

"I'll not look--there's no occasion for my seeing--_I'm_ not after a
muskrat," responded Sneak, stripping the skin from the animal, and
laughing at his own remark. When the ducks came round again, Joe
fired, and sure e