176 The Black-Tail Deer. 



second, came over backward. The second's pause while it 

 stood bolt upright, gave me time to make a frantic leap out 

 of the way with my pony, which scrambled after me, and we 

 both clung with hands and hoofs to the side of the bank, 

 while the other horse took two as complete somersaults 

 as I ever saw, and landed with a crash at the bottom 

 of the wash-out, feet uppermost. I thought it was done 

 for, but not a bit. After a moment or two it struggled 

 to its legs, shook itself, and looked round in rather a 

 shamefaced way, apparently not in the least the worse 

 for the fall. We now got my pony up to the top by 

 vigorous pulling, and then went down for the other, 

 which at first strongly objected to making another trial, 

 but, after much coaxing and a good deal of abuse, took 

 a start and went up without trouble. 



For some time after reaching the top of the bluffs we 

 rode along without seeing any thing. When it was possible, 

 we kept one on each side of a creek, avoiding the tops of 

 the ridges, because while on them a horseman can be seen 

 at a very long distance, and going with particular caution 

 whenever we went round a spur or came up over a crest. 

 The country stretched away like an endless, billowy sea of 

 dull-brown soil and barren sage-brush, the valleys making 

 long parallel furrows, and every thing having a look of 

 dreary sameness. At length, as we came out on a rounded 

 ridge, three black-tail bucks started up from a lot of sage- 

 brush some two hundred yards away and below us, and 

 made off down hill. It was a very long shot, especially to 

 try running, but, as game seemed scarce and cartridges 

 were plenty, I leaped off the horse, and, kneeling, fired. 



