A Sportsman 75 



deer from their beds in the snow and in mass broke 

 from the yard and down the somewhat steep hill 

 in the direction I was heading. They were soon 

 out of sight, leaving a deep furrow which Nay after- 

 wards said looked as if a loaded cart had gone down 

 there. 



There was no time to lose as they should be hard 

 pressed at the start before they could recover from 

 the first fright, and settle down to a steady, moderate 

 pace, or separate. So calling loudly to Nay, uncer- 

 tain if he could hear me, I hastened on with Zip, 

 who already was about out of sight ahead on the 

 trail. He was a knowing dog, this mongrel Zip, 

 who had served his apprenticeship for some years 

 with Nay, his master being a noted hunter, and fonder 

 of moose and deer hunting and life in the woods than 

 work on the small farm he had at the Megalloway 

 settlement. I was quite light and quick on the snow- 

 shoe, and I soon overtook and passed Zip, whose oc- 

 casional slumping in the 1 ; snow retarded his progress, 

 but gave no cessation of his excited yelping. I soon 

 left him far behind, but he had no discouragement 

 in his bones, and afterwards came up in good season. 



Not more than half a mile more did I go, before 

 I had the deer in sight ahead; they, being confused 

 and floundering in the deep snow, were still together. 

 Pitiful sight was it not? I think so, but did not 

 then, as I was too eager for the killing and fresh meat. 

 But as I came up to them they parted in different di- 

 rections, as was their habit when close pressed. Hast- 

 ily selecting the largest of the herd for my particular 

 attention, and to hold as I could only until Nay came 

 up, I pressed him to bay, for he could not make 



