THE BLACK-TAILED AND VI lie IMA DEE It. 349 



While sitting listlessly on a fallen fir, and paying much 

 more attention, even though it was mechanical, to the 

 sights and sounds about me than to the purpose for which 

 I was there, I heard a tremendous crashing in the shrub- 

 bery a short distance to my left. This caused me to jump 

 promptly to my feet, and to grasp the gun firmly in my 

 hands, and when I saw the bushes swaying I put it near 

 my shoulder, ready to fire at once. When the undergrowth 

 parted, however, instead of seeing a deer emerge, out bolt- 

 ed the French half-breed who acted as guide, in a state of 

 trepidation. On seeing me he rushed forward impetuous- 

 ly, and said that he had been pursued by a cougar for a 

 short distance, and that he had met a bear so suddenly 

 that it had scared all his wits away. I asked him what 

 brought him from that direction, and he replied that the 

 hills were full of deer, that the dogs had divided on a dozen 

 or more of them, and that they were now making for the 

 river. After telling me to keep my stand, and not to leave 

 it on any account, he dashed away through the woods, in- 

 tending to take up a position on my run-way near the riv- 

 er. He had scarcely been gone ten minutes before a full- 

 grown stag bounded out of the very track he had been fol- 

 lowing ; but before the noble-looking creature could cross 

 the road I shot him dead. Hearing another crashing to 

 my right, I looked in that direction, and saw a doe leap 

 clear across the track ; but before she could disappear I 

 gave her the contents of the second barrel. I knew I had 

 hit her, yet she did not fall ; so after her I went at my 

 best pace, now clambering over fallen trees, anon stum- 

 bling through matted shrubbery, or tearing, with eyes half 

 closed, through dense fern - brakes. I travelled in this 

 manner for two miles as rapidly as I could, the only halt 

 I made being a short one to load my gun, and finally 

 cnu-rged on a splendid wild meadow that skirted the 

 stream. While heedlessly passing over this, for I saw no 

 deer tracks, the doe I had wounded started up about twen- 

 ty yards to my right; but before she could get as many 

 feet away I planted a load of buckshot in her heart, and 



