370 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



When shot at, I have known them to make several 

 jumps before leaving for safer quarters, they seeming to 

 have no idea that the smoke, noise, and hissing of bullets 

 about them referred in any way to themselves. I fired five 

 times one day at a yearling without hitting it, owing to de- 

 fective cartridges, or some other cause; and although the 

 balls tore up the ground beside it, or whistled about its 

 head, it made no effort to leave until I, displeased with my 

 shooting, attempted to approach it, and then it vanished 

 out of sight in a second, taking a large herd with it. 



One of the surest means of stalking the animal success- 

 fully is to arouse its curiosity by waving gently, or allow- 

 ing the wind to blow, a handkerchief or a piece of bright- 

 colored cloth. On seeing this, it approaches cautiously, 

 halts frequently, and stares in the most inquisitive manner; 

 and having finally decided that the object is something 

 worth knowing, advances boldly and by circling move- 

 ments, until it conies within rifle range, when the hunter 

 drops it. The male, in contradistinction to the usual rule, 

 is far more vigilant and inquisitive than the female, and 

 the first to be attracted by the deceptive lure; and if a 

 herd is together, the largest stags take the lead in ap- 

 proaching, and they are followed by the females and the 

 young, which are ranged at respectful distances behind 

 them. It is amusing to see with what ludicrous gravity 

 all go through the same movements almost at the same 

 time, and the mingled expression of astonishment and cau- 

 tion they display. This propensity of the lords of the herd 

 proves of use to the hunter, for he can pick out the best of 

 them, and by one or two shots get more meat than he could 

 by three times as many if he had to take the animals indis- 

 criminately. 



The sportsman cannot get many shots at them, however, 

 unless he is well concealed, and in such a position that they 

 cannot get his wind ; for their curiosity would vanish in a 

 moment did they sniff his dangerous character. 



The most interesting mode of capturing them is to chase 

 them with trained greyhounds or deer-hounds, and some ex- 



