TRACKS AND TRACKING 



I followed the trail, having resolved that I would 

 kill that buck in one way or another. The trail 

 led me two miles farther, and then it stopped. 

 The snow was like sand, and prevented the indi- 

 vidual tracks from being seen plainly. The buck 

 had back-tracked, and I had overrun the spot 

 from which he made the side- jump. Back I 

 went, and after going three hundred yards I 

 found his artful side- jump, and the trail led into 

 a thick clump of pines. Again I sent the wind 

 in as a driver, and that time got a shot ; but I did 

 not down my quarry. The trail showed the buck 

 was shot through the brisket and shoulder (low). 

 Then I sat down, ate my lunch, and smoked my 

 pipe. After that the trail led me again to the 

 creek. I crossed to the other side and, about 

 fifty yards from the creek, followed its course 

 over half a mile, knowing that the buck would 

 not leave the water on the side he entered it to lie 

 down. Finally the creek led past a fir tree with 

 low-hanging branches, and as the trail had not 

 been seen thus far, I was moderately sure that 

 the buck had not passed that cover and it proved 

 that he had not. During snowless times if a deer 



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