142 Hunting Trips of a Ranchman 



against the wind. The patter of the unshod hoofs 

 over the turf makes but little noise; and the turns 

 are so numerous and abrupt, and the horses go so 

 swiftly, that the hunters come on the deer almost 

 before the latter are aware of their presence. If 

 it is so late in the day that the deer have begun 

 to move they will find the horses close up before 

 they have a suspicion of danger, while if they are 

 still lying in the cover the suddenness of the ap- 

 pearance of their foe is apt to so startle them as 

 to make them break out and show themselves in- 

 stead of keeping hid, as they would probably do if 

 they perceived the approach from afar. One thus 

 gets a close running shot or if he waits a minute 

 he will generally get a standing shot at some little 

 distance, owing to a very characteristic habit of 

 the black-tail. This is its custom of turning round, 

 apparently actuated simply by curiosity, to look at 

 the object which startled it, after it has run off a 

 hundred and fifty yards or so. It then stands mo- 

 tionless for a few seconds, and offers a chance for 

 a steady shot. If the chance is not improved, no 

 other will offer, for as soon as the deer has ended 

 its scrutiny it is off again, and this time will not 

 halt till well out of danger. Owing to its singular 

 gait, a succession of buck jumps, the black-tail is a 

 peculiarly difficult animal to hit while on the run; 

 and it is best to wait until it stops and turns before 

 taking the shot, as if fired at the report will gen- 

 erally so alarm it as to make it continue its course 

 without halting to look back. Some of the finest 



