SHERIFF'S WORK ON A RANCH ! ! 9 



it while the other watched one end ; but almost before we had begun four 

 deer broke out at one side, loped easily off, evidently not much scared, 

 and took refuge in a deep glen or gorge, densely wooded with cedars, that 

 made a blind pocket in the steep side of one of the great plateaus bounding 

 the bottom. After a short consultation, one of our number crept round to 

 the head of the gorge, making a wide detour, and the other two advanced 

 up it on each side, thus completely surrounding the doomed deer. They 



"HANDS UP!" THE CAPTURE OF FINNIGAN. 



attempted to break out past the man at the head of the glen, who shot 

 down a couple, a buck and a yearling doe. The other two made their 

 escape by running off over ground so rough that it looked fitter to be 

 crossed by their upland-loving cousins, the black-tail. 



This success gladdened our souls, insuring us plenty of fresh meat. 

 We carried pretty much all of both deer back to camp, and, after a hearty 

 breakfast, loaded our scow and started merrily off once more. The cold 

 still continued intense, and as the day wore away we became numbed by 

 it, until at last an incident occurred that set our blood running freely 

 again. 



We were, of course, always on the alert, keeping a sharp lookout 

 ahead and around us, and making as little noise as possible. Finally our 

 watchfulness was rewarded, for in the middle of the afternoon of this, the 

 19 



