The Deer of the River Bottoms 133 



some little distance, and then to hunt along through 

 it near the edge.^ As soon as we got down near the 

 brushy ravine we rode along without talking, guid- 

 ing the horses as far as possible on earthy places, 

 where they would neither stumble nor strike their 

 feet against stones, and not letting our rifle-barrels 

 or spurs clink against anything. Keeping outside 

 of the brush, a little up the side of the hill, one of 

 us would ride along each side of the ravine, ex- 

 amining intently with our eyes every clump of trees 

 or brushwood. For some time we saw nothing, 

 but, finally, as we were riding both together round 

 the jutting spur of a steep hill, my companion sud- 

 denly brought his horse to a halt, and pointing 

 across the shelving bend to a patch of trees well 

 up on the opposite side of a broad ravine, asked 

 me if I did not see a deer in it. I was off the 

 horse in a second, throwing the reins over his 

 head. 



We were in the shadow of the cliff-shoulder, and 

 with the wind in our favor; so we were unlikely 

 to be observed by the game. I looked long and 

 eagerly toward the spot indicated, which was about 

 a hundred and twenty-five yards from us, but at 

 first could see nothing. By this time, however, 

 the experienced plainsman who was with me was 

 satisfied that he was right in his supposition, and 

 he told me to try again and look for a patch of 

 red. I saw the patch at once, just glimmering 

 through the bushes, but should certainly never have 

 dreamed it was a deer if left to myself. Watching 



