American Big-Game Hunting 



with lively interest, and wondering what they 

 would do next. 



They were apparently satisfied with an 

 occasional sniff at one another, but seemed at 

 the same time to give their attention to some- 

 thing beyond my view. From my position 

 on top of a small mound, or butte, where 

 I had crawled with great caution, nothing 

 could be seen either up or down a large 

 washout that was between me and the deer ; 

 and I had poked my gun through a bunch 

 of grass, and was quite prepared to shoot, 

 when the ears, then the head and body, 

 of a large doe, closely followed by a young 

 buck and a yearling, came into full view. 



To say that I was surprised but faintly ex- 

 presses it, and for the time being all idea of 

 shooting left me, as I watched with keenest 

 interest the advent of the new-comers. The 

 old doe, as if aware of her importance as the 

 respected matron of a family, walked sedately 

 past the two bucks without bestowing the 

 least attention upon them, selected a grassy 

 spot in the sun, pivoted around twice to level 

 her bed, and quietly settled to earth, facing 

 me. The young buck and yearling stood as 



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