CHAPTER XVII.

A NEW WAY OF KEEPING A BIRTHDAY. —­ LOST IN THE WOODS. —­ KINDNESS OF MR. GALT. —­ ADVICE TO NEW SETTLERS. —­ UNEXPECTED RETIREMENT OF MR. GALT. —­ I ACCOMPANY HIM TO THE LANDING-PLACE. —­ RECEIVE ORDERS TO LEAVE GUELPH FOR GODERICH. —­ WHIRLWINDS AT GUELPH AND DOURO.

THE 6th of November was my birthday, so I determined to give myself a holiday, and go out still-hunting.  I had been told by some of the workmen that deer were very plentiful in the Clergy-block, so I started early in the morning without waiting for my regular breakfast, merely taking a biscuit, as I was too eager for the sport to have much appetite; besides, I intended to be home to an early dinner.  The sky was overcast, and a few flakes of snow were falling, but I did not dislike these signs; for I prefer a little dampness on the leaves, which causes less noise from the tread—­an important point to the hunter; for when the leaves are crisp and dry, it is useless to attempt approaching the deer, who are sure to hear you long before you get within range.

I considered myself a tolerably good woodsman, and was, therefore, not much afraid of being lost; but I reckoned without my host in this instance.  After crossing the river, I proceeded for some distance along a hard-wood ridge, till I came to a thicket of brush-wood, out of which sprang three fine deer, a buck and two does.  I fired at the buck as he scampered off, and had the satisfaction of finding blood on the track, which I followed for more than two miles.  But I lost him at last in the middle of a cedar-swamp, owing to the quantity of soft snow, which was by this time falling heavily.  I, therefore, thought it best to return home, and put off my hunt to a more propitious day.

On emerging from the swamp, which I did on the wrong side—­for I had no sun to guide me—­I saw a fine doe within fifty yards of me, feeding on the side of a hill.  I thought I was sure of this one at any rate; but, in this also, I was woefully disappointed; for the powder in the pan of the lock had got damp by the wet snow, and only flashed in the pan.  My gun had the old flint-lock, percussion-caps being then hardly known in the colonies.

My second disappointment decided me to return home.  This, however, was sooner said than done; for, after walking for more than two hours, I found I had lost my way, a conclusion as to which there could be no mistake.  At first, I thought it would be best to take my back-track, but I found this would not answer; for the snow was melting as fast as it fell.  I could not even avail myself of the common indications for finding my way, because the under-brush was still loaded with snow, so that it was quite impossible to see fifty yards in any direction.