prize, and then, raising his head, he laughed in his peculiar manner, saying—
"So much for Marmaduke Temple's law! This warms a body's blood, old John; I haven't killed a buck in the lake afore this, sin' this many a year. I call that good venison, lad; and I know them that will relish the creater's steaks, for all the betterments in the land."
The Indian had long been drooping with his years, arid perhaps under the calamities of his race, but this invigorating and exciting sport had caused a gleam of sunshine to cross his swarthy face that had long been absent from his features. It was evident that the old man enjoyed the chase more as a memorial of his youthful sports and deeds, than with any expectation of profiting by the success. He felt the deer, however, lightly, his hand already trembling with the re-action of his unusual exertions, and smiled with a nod of approbation, as he said, in the emphatic and sententious manner of his people—
"Good."
"I am afraid, Natty," said Edwards, when the heat of the moment had passed, and his blood began to cool, "that we have all been equally transgressors of the law. But keep your own counsel, and there are none here to betray us. Yet, how came those dogs at large? I left them securely fastened, I know, for I felt the thongs, and examined the knots, when I was at the hut."
"It has been too much for the poor things," said Natty, "to have such a buck take the wind of them. See, lad, the pieces of the buck skin are hanging from their necks yet. Let us paddle up, John, and I will call them in, and look a little into the matter."
When the old hunter landed, and examined the thongs that were yet fast to the hounds, his coun-
