EARLY DAY STORIES. 197 



her back, and was not in the least gun shy. I found the 

 game all right and got it, and besides had a day of unusual 

 experiences the relating of which, I hope, will be a pleasure 

 to those who read it. I had gone five or six miles in a north- 

 east direction and had reached the summit of the ridge divid- 

 ing the waters of Elm from those of Wallace creek, when 

 I reined up the mare to take a good look ahead for game. 

 To my left about a quarter of a mile away was a rather deep 

 ravine lined with oak and ash trees of small size and an 

 undergrowth of choke cherry and plum brush. A half mile 

 away to the east it run out, spreading itself out in a weed 

 patch as it joined the level flat land. It was a fine resort 

 for black tail deer, and in a moment or two I saw two feed- 

 ing part way down the bank, on the north side. Slipping 

 off the mare and leading her back out of sight I threw down 

 the bridle reins and left her to feed. It was necessary to 

 make quite a detour in order to keep out of sight. The place 

 near where the deer were I had marked by a large clump 

 of oak grubs, ten or twelve feet high, that offered a good 

 screen. Arriving at the place, cocking my rifle and making 

 ready to shoot quickly, I watched for the game several min- 

 utes, but could see nothing of it. Then I whistled several 

 times and finally, seeing nothing, was about to give it up, 

 thinking the deer had gone either up or down the ravine. 

 When, just as I was about to turn, one of them jumped out 

 of the weeds within ten steps of where I was standing, and 

 springing about half way up the steep slope on the other 

 side, stopped stock still, turning its head to look at me. I 

 was too much surprised to take a safe shot, but pointing the 

 gun in that direction, I fired, the shot hitting the bank about 

 a foot above the game. The deer made a little start but did 

 not run. I fired again, this time taking aim, and shot it 

 through the lungs. It made a jump or two, landing in the 

 weeds in the ravine, where it fell. The second deer sprang 

 out, went half way up the bank and stopped to look at the 



