A Sportsman 463 



him, owing to the condition of the leaves, without 

 difficulty, but I found no trace of blood, and saw that 

 he indicated no intimation of having been wounded. 

 I returned to the spot where he stood when I shot, and 

 there I found to my mortification and great annoyance 

 a leafless maple sapling of about an inch and a half in 

 diameter, which I had not observed when I fired, and 

 at the level corresponding with the place which I shot 

 at the sapling was shattered and nearly cut off by my 

 rifle ball where its soft nose had exploded and become 

 diverted from its passage in some direction away from 

 the deer. This was the result of all my stalking, but 

 it could not take away the satisfaction the daily 

 satisfaction I had experienced. One must have an 

 object for all exertions that is sustaining, and lends 

 vigor and enjoyment to pursuits, which when aimless 

 are of slight value. 



The last two deer I shot I came upon unnoticed. 

 They were standing a moderate distance off. It seemed 

 a pity to shoot at them, so beautiful and innocent as 

 they appeared. But I did. One was half broadside 

 toward me, which I shot through the heart, when he 

 dropped in his tracks, and perhaps was not conscious 

 of his wound. The other was feeding, heading away 

 from me, and I had to whistle for him to turn, and as 

 he did, my bullet broke his neck. Last year, one day 

 when I had hunted over a ten-mile tramp most care- 

 fully carrying my rifle in front, ready for immediate 

 action, without seeing or hearing a deer, I approached 

 within a quarter of a mile of camp, when I relaxed my 

 careful walk and search, and threw my rifle carelessly 

 over my shoulder. The forest was thickly grown, and 

 as I passed a small thicket a deer rushed across my path 



