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6 He said too, that he had not consulted the Medicine Man before starting, and could have no luck in consequence.

The snow now came down in a heavy fall and the ground was quickly covered. We reached our intended halting place about sunset, devoured the other raccoon, and rolled up in our blankets before the fire. As the snow would render the hunting excellent, I was anxious to return to our camp, but the Indians were determined to wait until the Great Spirit was propitious, so finding they were not be induced, the next morning before daylight, I shouldered my ? and returned alone to the shanty. I was in sight of it when I came upon the tracks of three deer, which had passed only a few minutes before, and though the daylight was fast waning, I followed them until the track led me to a ridge of beech saplings, where I discovered the deer browsing. I quickly levelled my rifle at the nearest, and killed it -- brought it to camp, skinned & cooked a collop for supper, after which much fatigued, I slept soundly until morning. On leaving the hut the next morning I found that several wolves had been round the deer, which was hanging on a gallows, and had carried off the head & neck.

The next day I had a long hunt. The deer were wild, and though in great numbers, were difficult to approach within shot; so that after following some for many hours, I found myself far from camp, and evening already closing in. Looking at my compass, I struck through the woods in the direction of the shanty, but night was fast coming on apace and the woods being dark as pitch, I had great difficulty in keeping a straight course. The wind was moaning in fitful gusts through the tops of the trees, through which not a ray of light penetrated, to enable me to consult my compass; save by removing the glass & feeling the direction of the needle with my fingers. Heavy flakes of snow were falling which even as I emerged into a more open part of the woods, drifted into my face, adding to my discomfort. I was never out in a darker or more dismal night. Occasionally I heard the deep baying howl of a wolf on the track of a deer, or the dismal hoot of an owl close to my ear, than the shriek of which bird, nothing living is more unearthly. Stumbling over logs, running against trees, falling into root holes full of snow, on I floundered. But I hit upon an expedient by which I was enabled to steer by the compass, which was, simply by lighting my pipe which I had only to hold near the compass to afford sufficient light for the purpose.

I had been many hours on my march; when at a moment