88 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



animal was very cautious and stepped along care- 

 fully, watching for the least sign of danger. He 

 finally stepped from the timber and began nipping 

 the leaves and grass and feeding towards where the 

 hunter was concealed. He fed along so slowly that it 

 became a race between the deer and the sun. At last 

 the sun disappeared and darkness came on rapidly. 

 Dyche was uneasy lest his wife should drop a pan or 

 make some other noise which would startle the deer. 

 It became so dark that the sights on the rifle were 

 not distinguishable, and when the deer came within 

 fifty yards Dyche fired his shot-gun. The animal 

 gave several great jumps and Dyche did not wait to 

 see if his shot had been fatal, but he sent a ball from 

 the rifle after it and the deer sank to the ground. 

 Calling Mrs. Dyche, who took charge of the guns, 

 he dressed the deer and carried it to camp. A hot 

 supper of venison liver, biscuits, coffee, and syrup 

 convinced them that they had chosen well in coming 

 to the mountains. Two days were spent at Camp 

 Bear Trail, and they lived as happily as if they had 

 been domiciled at some summer hotel. 



When they had left Harvey's ranch, eight days 

 before, the place was comparatively quiet, with 

 only Harvey, his wife, and Allie there. As they ap- 

 proached on their return, however, they were made 

 aware of the fact that a change had come since their 

 departure. Voices, loud and strong, could be heard 

 long before they reached the clearing. At the house 

 they found several mountaineers sitting around, 

 "swapping lies" about their varied adventures. 

 There was Fly, the mica-miner, he of the strong 



