The Black-Tail Deer 141 



great deal of ground more than counterbalances 

 the disadvantage of being on horseback. About 

 one-third of my hunts are still made on horseback; 

 and in almost all the others I take old Manitou to 

 carry me to and from the grounds and to pack out 

 any game that may be killed. A hunting-horse is 

 of no use whatever unless he will permit a man 

 to jump from his back and fire with the greatest 

 rapidity; and nowhere does practice have more to 

 do with success than in the case of jumping off 

 a horse to shoot at game which has just been seen. 

 The various movements take a novice a good deal 

 of time; while an old hand will be off and firing 

 with the most instantaneous quickness. Manitou 

 can be left anywhere at a moment s warning, while 

 his rider leaps off, shoots at a deer from almost 

 under his head, and perhaps chases the wounded 

 animal a mile or over; and on his return the good 

 old fellow will be grazing away, perfectly happy 

 and contented, and not making a movement to run 

 off or evade being caught. 



One method of killing deer on horseback is very 

 exciting. Many of the valleys or ravines extend 

 with continual abrupt turns and windings for sev 

 eral miles, the brush and young trees stretching 

 with constant breaks down the middle of the bot 

 tom, and leaving a space on each side along which 

 a surefooted horse can gallop at speed. Two men, 

 on swift, hardy horses, can hunt down such a ravine 

 very successfully at evening, by each taking a side 

 and galloping at a good speed the whole length 



