American Big-Game Hunting 
with lively interest, and wondering what they 
would do next. 
They were apparently satisfied with an 
occasional sniff at one another, but seemed at 
the same time to give their attention to some- 
thing beyond my view. From my position 
on top of a small mound, or butte, where 
I had crawled with great caution, nothing 
could be seen either up or down a large 
washout that was between me and the deer; 
and I had poked my gun through a bunch 
of grass, and was quite prepared to shoot, 
when the ears, then the head and body, 
of a large doe, closely followed by a young 
buck and a yearling, came into full view. 
To say that I was surprised but faintly ex- 
presses it, and for the time being all idea of 
shooting left me, as I watched with keenest 
interest the advent of the new-comers. The 
old doe, as if aware of her importance as the 
respected matron of a family, walked sedately 
past the two bucks without bestowing the 
least attention upon them, selected a grassy 
spot in the sun, pivoted around twice to level 
her bed, and quietly settled to earth, facing 
me. The young buck and yearling stood as 
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