ii2 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



some peak above, and lighting on dead trees hard 

 by, discussed in harsh, angry notes what manner 

 of thing I might be. ' Dead ! is he dead ?' they 

 kept questioning ; but though they came sailing 

 down very near, they could not quite make up 

 their minds. Brutes ! I should like to have 

 resolved their doubts with a bullet. Still lying 

 there, I heard the leaves move, and looking down 

 a vista amongst the pines I saw two great-eared 

 hinds looking at me. I should think they stood 

 for full ten minutes it seemed hours to me, my 

 muscles ached so with the effort to remain abso- 

 lutely quiet. Presently they were satisfied, and 

 walked daintily out of sight, followed immediately 

 by a handsome buck, tossing his branching antlers 

 as if he had led the van and dared the risk, 

 instead of sending his meek mates in front to see 

 if all was safe for him. I had killed as fine, if 

 not a finer stag of his race. The sunlight was 

 very sweet, and I enjoyed the silence, so, though 

 my hand crept towards my rifle, I let him go 

 unhurt. This forest seems full of mule-deer. 

 In the morning all the highest of the downs are 

 alive with them, in big bands ; but that is only 

 whilst the light is still gray and the day young. 

 As soon as it is broad daylight they all vanish, 

 creeping away into dark moss-carpeted woods, 

 still and damp, in which your foot sinks ankle- 



