THE MULE DEER. 317 



manner as slats are in the ordinary wooden bedstead, and 

 these we covered with a generous supply of the branchlets 

 of pine, fir, and larch, until we had completed a fragrant 

 couch tit for the gods. Over this we spread our blankets ; 

 and after pressing it once or twice to see that it was soft, 

 we were perfectly contented with it, and enjoyed, in antici- 

 pation, a stretch upon it after the toils of a day's hunting. 

 Having partaken of a hearty dinner, we set out in quest of 

 deer; but after a tramp of two hours we saw nothing at 

 which to fire, except some coveys of blue grouse; but as 

 we did not care to waste ammunition on them just then, 

 we allowed them to rest in peace. While loitering along 

 on our way back to camp, my friend called my attention to 

 the outline of a deer's head, which was visible through the 

 shrubbery about thirty or forty yards away. The animal 

 was evidently looking at us with the greatest curiosity, and 

 trying to decide to what species we belonged. As we were 

 at a halt, and to the leeward, it did not become alarmed ; 

 and I do not know how long it would have remained star- 

 ing at us, had not my companion asked me to tire at it. 

 Taking deliberate aim, I pulled the trigger slowly, and, 

 when the report ceased,! heard a heavy crashing in the un- 

 dergrowth. On reaching the spot, we found a handsome 

 doe lying dead, the ball having entered the skull near the 

 top, and coming out at the back part. She was such a 

 handsome creature that I felt almost sorry for killing her, 

 and actually wished her alive again. On looking at her, 

 I could not help noting the ridiculous contrast which her 

 huge, awkward-looking ears and rat-like tail presented to 

 her fine body and graceful limbs; and this caused me to 

 think that Nature must have some special purpose in view 

 in combining the graceful and the ludicrous in the same 

 animal or thing. 



Leaving her where she fell, we commenced beating down 

 and across the wind, and soon espied two does and their 

 fawns a short distance ahead ; but, before we could fire at 

 them, they went scurrying to the right up the hill. StiU 

 onward we toiled; but though we saw several fawns and 



