The Black-Tail Deer 147 



was made known by the vultures, gathered together 

 from all parts to feed upon it. 



When fired at from a place of hiding, deer which 

 have not been accustomed to the report of a gun will 

 often appear confused and uncertain what to do. 

 On one occasion, while hunting in the mountains, 

 I saw an old buck with remarkably large horns, of 

 curious and beautiful shape, more symmetrical than 

 in most instances where the normal form is departed 

 from. The deer was feeding in a wide, gently slop 

 ing valley, containing no cover from behind which 

 to approach him. We were in no need of meat, 

 but the antlers were so fine that I felt they justified 

 the death of their bearer. After a little patient wait 

 ing, the buck walked out of the valley, and over the 

 ridge on the other side, moving up wind; I raced 

 after him, and crept up behind a thick growth of 

 stunted cedars, which had started up from among 

 some bowlders. The deer was about a hundred 

 yards off, down in the valley. Out of breath, and 

 over-confident, I fired hastily, overshooting him. 

 The wind blew the smoke back away from the ridge, 

 so that he saw nothing, while the echo prevented his 

 placing the sound. He took a couple of jumps 

 nearer, when he stood still and was again overshot. 

 Again he took a few jumps, and the third shot went 

 below him; and the fourth just behind him. This 

 was too much, and away he went. In despair I knelt 

 down (I had been firing offhand), took a steady aim 

 well forward on his body, and fired, bringing him 

 down, but with small credit to the shot, for the bul- 



