OVERCUP OAK BUCK-HUNTING. 187 



rest and reawakend hope inspired me with new force, 

 and I lost no time in seeking something to appease my 

 ravenous appetite, as I roamed at random under the 

 heavily laden trees. The evening before, I had dis- 

 covered, near my sleeping place, an overcup oak, bear- 

 ing sweet acorns, some of which I gathered and 

 devoured, so as not to leave my stomach entirely 

 unemployed. This tree grows to a great size, but only 

 in the marshes ; the leaves are small, and the acorn is 

 covered by the cup, with the exception of a small 

 opening at the top, whence the name. It is nearly 

 round, and serves for food in case of need, being less 

 bitter than the common sort. Bears are particukirly 

 fond of it. 



I had not gone far from my bivouac when I came on 

 the fresh trail of an old buck, which I followed up 

 swiftly and silently through snow half a foot deep, 

 pa-sing several places where he had lain down. After 

 following the track for about three hours, it became 

 confused, but as I was forcing my way through a 

 thickly tangled thorn-bush, the buck stood before me, 

 looking at me with inquiring eyes. Ere I could clear 

 myself of the good-for-nothing creepers, he was off 

 again, leaving me to admire the immense leaps he had 

 made in the commencement of his flight; his third leap 

 had been over a hush from eight to nine feet high, and 

 from the spot where he took oft' to that where he lighted 

 was about twenty feet. I found that he had soon 

 slackened his pace to a walk, so quickening my steps, I 

 followed him cautiously. I saw him a second time 

 standing in a thicket about a hundred pace-: of!', and 

 evidently on the look-out; I had no hopes of getting 



