ends I hoped soon to see, my
instinct as a hunter made me anxious to secure the deer, as it might
possibly get up again, and be lost to us by springing into the river.
Acting on this impulse, therefore, I ran up to the wounded animal. The
poor brute was endeavouring to rise on its knees, so, hamstringing it
with my knife, I effectually prevented it from escaping. I had, however,
to approach it cautiously, for a blow from its antlers, even in its
present state, might prove dangerous. I managed at length to reach its
throat, when its struggles speedily ceased.

I now looked round for my friends, in the expectation of seeing them at
any moment, for I was sure they would follow the deer; but they did not
come. Still I could not have been mistaken. The animal had been shot by
a rifle bullet; it was a rifle I had heard fired. Had Indian hunters
shot the deer, they would certainly have followed more closely at its
heels; and besides, they were not likely to have rifles.

After having secured the deer, I hastened in the direction from whence
it had come, expecting that every moment would solve the mystery. Yet,
eager as I was, my eyes could not avoid remarking the wonderful objects
around me. On one side was a basin, its projecting rim carved with
marvellously intricate tracery, while the waters within were tinted with
all the colours of the rainbow. On the other side appeared a mass
greatly resembling an ancient castle. It rose more than forty feet above
the plain, while in its midst was a turret of still greater dimensions.
A succession of steps, formed by the substances in the water which had
become hardened, led up to it, ornamented with bead and shell work;
while large masses, shaped like cauliflowers or spongy-formed corals,
projected from the walls. Out of this curious structure, as I was
passing it, shot a column of water sixty feet or more in height, vast
volumes of steam escaping at the same time.

[Illustration: A JOYFUL MEETING.]

It seems curious that I should have been able to remark these objects at
a time when my mind was occupied by a matter of so much importance.
Still I could not avoid seeing the objects; and although I did not at
the time think much about them, they stamped their impression on my mind
as I went along. Suddenly two figures appeared, which put every other
object out of my sight. My eyes were fixed upon them; I had no doubt
that they were Manley and Sergeant Custis. I shouted. They saw and h