render himself to the bridle at length, after an hour's delay, and with the assistance of all the inmates of the farm, we managed to drive him into a corner, and there secured him. I have said that, with the assistance of the inmates of the farm, I succeeded in securing my fractious steed do not, however, from that suppose that old Glode and his relations afforded me much active help, their efforts being confined merely to forming a line across the angle of the field, and retreating most discreetly whenever the animal endeavoured to break through the cordon thus formed. I mention this trifling circumstance because I have always observed amongst Indians an instinctive dread of the horse; and, although the pony I speak of was one of the smallest of its kind, yet I found it most difficult to prevail upon the old Micmac to stand his ground at the slightest attempt on the nag's part to break through our line. And thus old Glode, who, in his native woods, would not have cared to grapple in the death-struggle with the ferocious bear, was yet unwilling, nay afraid, to oppose a small pony-so true is it that knowledge is power, and, I may say, courage. To resume. My steed, at last captured, was soon saddled; and the fore-legs of the moose (which I forgot to tell you had been cut off from the knee-joint, at my desire) having been slung over his shoulder, in the manner of holsters, I once more bestrode him, and pursued my way through the dreary forest of Annapolis, where I arrived that evening, just in time to partake of a good dinner with my hosts of the 6th, and to regale them during the repast with the details of my expedition.

The next day a dinner-party, followed by a quadrille, at the house of one of the garrison staff, disturbed the wonted serenity of Annapolis. I was, I need scarcely tell you, a willing guest to these festivities; and my late success having spread through the little town, I may, without vanity, declare that I was the hero of the evening. I there met two of theth, who had come from Halifax (120 miles) to pursue the sport I had just relinquished. A like good fortune did not, however, attend them, as, although out upwards of a week, they never saw or even heard moose.

The next morning, after taking leave of my kind friends, I put myself, with my trophies, on board the steamer, and that afternoon made my entry into St. John, the moose-head parading through the streets to the barracks on a hand-cart.

rose.

One of the greatest pleasures consequent upon a trip to the woods is the excessive delight one feels in returning again to the comforts of civilized society; everything appears, however tame before, couleur de The mess dinner, at all times pleasant, though void as it is of the prestige of female society-I can hardly go so far as does the versatile Harry Lorrequer" in calling it "the perfection of dinner society" is now to the palate and senses of the wanderer from the deep forest, his table so recently the ground, his plate of birch-bark, his drinking-cup of tin, a feast of the most gorgeous description; the massive plate and crystal glass, glittering on snow-white damask, and illumined by blazing lights, forming a striking though pleasing contrast to his late forest meals, partaken of after Nature's rudest fashion.

My first care, on arriving at St. John, was to seek from the initiated in these matters the best method of preserving the moose-head previous to getting it stuffed. Having applied to Dr. G-, the provincial geolo

gist, I obtained from him every assistance, and by his means my trophy soon appeared in a presentable shape, and figured in our mess-room, to the admiration of all beholders.

Dr. G— has established a large museum in the city, where, in addition to some thousand specimens of minerals and countless birds, the larger animals of the American forests, including the stately moose, may be seen, and will to the lovers of zoological science afford a rare treat. And now, my tale at an end, I pay my sorrowful adieux to the scene of sport. Farewell, then, for ever and a day, to the deep woods and placid waters of Nova Scotia! farewell to thee, old Glode, with thy dark brow and sturdy form! farewell to thee, Joe, thou stalwart specimen of America's first people! to the whole camp-squaws, children, all-a long farewell! and may the forests round thy wigwam ne'er lack the stately moose; and those calm lakes, over whose surface ne'er again, I ween, will it be my lot to float, may they never lose their bright and speckled denizen, "rich in its golden glory," the beauteous trout.

Having thus taken my leave of my late acquaintances of land and flood, I must, for the time, say-Adieu to you, my dear A-! not, however, without something more than a vague idea that, ere long, you will have to follow my snow shoe-tracks over the frozen surface of the New Brunswick Lakes, as I eagerly followed the bounding deer. In the hope, however, before that takes place, of shaking you by the hand in "merry England," with all good wishes, I again subscribe myself, stedfast as ever.

ADVENTURES OF A HUNTER: BY HIMSELF.

EDITED BY SCRIBBLE.

CHAP. IV.-MY ADMIRERS-I BECOME VAIN-AM INJUDICIOUSLY PHYSICKED.

In Mr. Martingale's stable I ought to have been comfortable; and it certainly was a wonderful change for the better. Cleanliness was its ruling feature; instead of the heated box and saturated straw I had been accustomed to, I was placed in a well-aired stall, with clean litter. Instead of irregularity of feeding and grooming, I was dressed twice daily with the greatest care, and my food was brought to me exactly at the same time; and it is quite astonishing how essential to our health this regularity is. Our stomachs are small, and our digestion is rapid; we are most thankful for nutritious food in a small compass, and at definite periods. No wonder that I improved; and my vanity was fed twenty times an hour by hearing it said. Still there are a few drawbacks to this apparently enviable state. I was loaded with clothes-in itself a great nuisance-and the stable was darkened for

about five hours every day. This was to further my condition at the expense of my eyesight, and to give my fellow-labourers time for rest, as they were being regularly hunted. Besides this, we had our heads tied up to the manger, and were compelled to stand in a most painful position for hours together. Our stalls sloped for the purpose of draining, and our hind feet were, consequently, several inches lower than our fore feet. This is very disagreeable, and I always used to stand across the stall when I could; I wonder they didn't see it, and alter it, for we all agreed in disliking it very much; but men don't pay a great deal of attention to our wishes.

Notwithstanding all this, I was much flattered by the praises I daily received; and nobody spoke ill of me except Mr. Snaffles, the head groom; and he did so because he had not been consulted before Mr. Martingale brought me home. There's nothing puts them so much out of temper with a horse as the not being asked their opinion about him.

Mrs. Martingale was delighted with me, and I was made happy for a day by her caresses. She used to pat me on the neck, and praise my colour and temper; but I fear that I must have frightened her, for, upon my turning round once to return her kindness by a show of endearment, she struck me on the nose and retired hastily. I suppose she imagined me a little too familiar, though we were very good friends afterwards, and she wanted to have me instead of her own horse, which stood in the same stable. Mr. Martingale thought me "too good for a lady!" What a singular idea!

Since I've grown old, I have often been amused with the conversations I used to listen to upon my own merits, and how entirely every one looked at me through his own microscope.

Well, Martingale, how do you like the young one?"

"Oh! I don't know-I've hardly ridden him; he's a very nice horse, and much improved. How do you like him?"

"He's not fast enough, I'm sure.

This was the opinion of Mr. K

y, a very good rider, as I know by experience, but much too rich and high-bred ever to be satisfied with anything.

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Ah!" said George, as Mr. Ky left the stable, so he'd a said of Plenipo, if he'd been a hunter instead of a race-horse."

“Well, B——n, my boy, how do you like my Friar Bacon horse?" This was addressed to a tall, good-looking man, slightly lame, and who had the reputation of being the hardest rider in the county; but I've seen him stop when he ought not, and could tell a secret or two of his riding if I chose. However, I won't be ill-natured.

"Oh !" said B

-n, he's a nice horse enough, but he's no power; besides, he's not thick enough through his heart."

"Ah!" said George again," that's what he always says if they ain't made just like Canteen."

came over to

It was great fun, too, to hear the other side of the question. When a party of infantry subs., from the barracks at Wdrink bottled porter and smoke a cigar, they were never satisfied without going to look at the stud. I need hardly say that they were in general very ignorant of all connected with us-the animals they themselves rode being really such as no gentleman's hunter would even exchange snorts with at the cover side. They were very often lame, and

always ill-conditioned, out-at-elbow-looking brutes, having to do at least the work of three of us. Nevertheless, though such bad judges for themselves, they made a point of passing an opinion upon the choice of others, and sometimes talked as though they really preferred their own property-a thing too absurd to credit.

"That's an uncommonly nice horse of yours, Martingale-the young 'un-the nicest horse I've seen for a long time; what capital hocks and thighs!"

As they said this to every horse in the stable, and there were four of us, I didn't feel much flattered by the remark; and here the long, straight-haired, blue-eyed, shooting-jacketed youth would condescendingly approach me, and turn up the corner of my clothing from off my quarters, rubbing up the hair, and letting in something that resembled his own "coolness," for which I often felt inclined to give him an admonitory kick; and having generally whisked my tail at the unpleasant titillation produced by his curiosity, brought down upon myself a score of "who-ays" and "come-ups" and "gently, you brute !" accompanied by a sudden retreat from the stall, rounding the post very closely, at as great a distance from the "nicest horse in the world" as was possible.

I fancy, if I recollect rightly, that about this time my head was getting a little turned by the general praises which were injudiciously lavished upon me, and but for the before-mentioned Snaffles, I might have got quite beyond endurance. As it was, I saw that I was a great favourite, and, like all favourites, gave myself airs. I scarcely condescended to notice the two very respectable hacks which stood in an adjoining stable to mine. I was foolish enough to think no horse good enough to keep me company (a mistake which was corrected as soon as I began to be hunted), and was unable to see the value of my stable companions, simply because their destiny led them into a different walk of life from my own. They were excellent hacks, honest, high-couraged, as goodlooking and better bred than myself, no sort of doubt resting upon the certainty of their pedigree, whilst I have been compelled to admit that the respectability of my dam was at least questionable. I feel pain when I call to mind this unworthy trait of character, and have often laughed at human beings for a like absurdity; but I begin to think that we are partakers of the vices of men, as a punishment for our sins committed in some former state of being.

I mentioned Snaffles. To me he was an object of great interest and unmitigated disgust. He was short, thin, with rather sharp features ; his hair was scrupulously combed on each side into a small curl; he wore a linen jacket of considerable length, drab breeches and gaiters, and a hat brushed to a fault. Whether he meant to kill me or not I cannot tell, but he very nearly succeeded. I had, by some means, caught a violent cold and cough, and, as a natural consequence, my system was much lowered. Mr. Snaffles adopted his own remedy, and physicked me most unmercifully; a few days more would have done the job, and the world would have lost the benefit of my advice and experience. An accident saved me, and got Snaffles into bad odour. Ls, a veterinary surgeon, came to Mr. Martingale's upon some other business, and saw the state I was in. After openly condemning the plan pursued by the head groom, and correcting it by some strong measures of his own, he sent for Mr. Martingale. Snaffles was absent.

"Do you know the Friar Bacon colt is very bad, sir ?”

"Not I. I asked to see him yesterday, but Snaffles made some excuse said he was in physic."

"In physic! So he was-so he was; and Snaffles physicked him and very nearly killed him; gave him physic when he'd a strong cold and cough on him; old system exploded disease quite lowering enough without taking away the little strength they've got left. Just keep your eye on your own stable-see 'em when you like-ride 'em when you like; don't give up the reins-might as well get off the box altogether-nice young horse, and I'll put him right for you. I remember Kench's Gipsy mare being much

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Oh, well, there's no harm done, is there?"

"No, no-he'll come round; but never you let them humbug you, or you'll see the same will happen to you as did to Gipsy

"Well, good bye, L- -s (if he once begins about Gipsy, I shall never be dressed for dinner) ;" and Mr. Martingale left the stable.

I am happy to say that a few days wrought a wonderful change in me. I began to get better; the cough had left me, and my strength was returning; but I felt very wretched. However, my appetite came again, and with it the encouraging remarks of admiring subs. and the flattering notice of Mr. and Mrs. Martingale.

It was now about the middle of winter, and I was shortly to see my first day's hunting.

CHAP. V. HALF-STARVED ON THE EXPECTATION OF A DAY'S HUNTINGI RECEIVE SOME ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT.

Before I proceed with my adventures, it will be well to settle one point my age. It was a question invariably asked, and one on which Mr. Snaffles exhibited the one solitary joke of his life.

"How old is he?" said a very mild-looking young gentleman, one day, as he walked towards me with the intention of examining my mouth for himself.

"Twenty-seven," said Snaffles.

"Oh! so he is-I see," said the youth, forcing my lips apart so as to exhibit the outside of the teeth.

This was Mr. Snaffles' joke, and a very 'good one he thought it. It was certainly excusable, as he was asked the same question twenty times a day; and though he answered, honestly enough, "coming five," every one thought it necessary to look in my mouth, and then assent with Oh! so he is-I see.

My real age was now between four and five years. My youth must be my excuse for many follies and blunders committed at that time. However, old heads, I have heard, never grow on young shoulders; but I am not sure that that is strictly true. I think I've known some very young shoulders with very old heads upon them, as you'll be inclined to believe when you've heard the whole of my history.

"Coming five," I was the youngest horse in the stable-in my own opinion neither the worst nor the ugliest. The horse that stood next to me was a most respectable-looking hunter, of a certain age-an age that was most uncertain to all but his master. He was handsome, and of great experience, having carried Mr. Martingale seven or eight sea