The Deer of the River Bottoms 123 



wood, it can often be obtained by creeping up along 

 the edge; if seen among the large trees, it is even 

 more easily still-hunted, as a tree trunk can be read- 

 ily kept in line with the quarry, and thus prevent its 

 suspecting any approach. But only a few white-tail 

 are killed by regular and careful stalking; in much 

 the greater number of instances the hunter simply 

 beats patiently and noiselessly from the leeward, 

 carefully through the clumps of trees and bushes, 

 always prepared to see his game, and with his rifle 

 at the ready. Sooner or later, as he steals round a 

 corner, he either sees the motionless form of a deer, 

 not a great distance off, regarding him intently for 

 a moment before taking flight; or else he hears a 

 sudden crash, and catches a glimpse of the animal 

 as it lopes into the bushes. In either case, he must 

 shoot quick ; but the shot is a close one. 



If he is heard or seen a long way off, the deer is 

 very apt, instead of running away at full speed, to 

 skulk off quietly through the bushes. But when sud- 

 denly startled, the white-tail makes off at a great 

 rate, at a rolling gallop, the long, broad tail, pure 

 white, held up in the air. In the dark or in thick 

 woods, often all that can be seen is the flash of white 

 from the tail. The head is carried low and well 

 forward in running; a buck, when passing swiftly 

 through thick underbrush, usually throws his horns 

 back almost on his shoulders, with his nose held 

 straight in front. White-tail venison is, in season, 

 most delicious eating, only inferior to the mutton 

 of the mountain sheep. 



