THE BLACK-TAILED AND VIRGINIA DEER. 343 



duced two of us to follow the trail, which we did quite 

 readily by noting the condition of the fallen leaves ; and 

 we had not proceeded half a mile ere we came to a brook, 

 and on its bank we found the animal lifeless as a stone, 

 and the hounds grouped about it. A joyous halloo from 

 our party soon brought the others, and I was the recipient 

 of theatrical congratulations, which were given demonstra- 

 tively, as an antidote to the previous wounds. "We dressed 

 the stag in a few moments, gave the entrails to the hounds, 

 placed the carcass on the limb of a tree, and then resumed 

 our sport. 



The dogs were next sent into a dense fern -brake that 

 reached nearly to our necks. They were there about a 

 minute, when a simultaneous cry from all startled us, and, 

 ere we could recover our wits, two does of the white-tailed 

 deer species (C. leucurus) bounded into our midst with 

 such suddenness that before any one thought of shooting 

 them they were twenty yards away. It was then too late, 

 as the shrubbery was so dense that no shot could penetrate 

 it, except by mere accident; and as each person seemed 

 anxious to have some excuse, we contented ourselves by 

 expressing our surprise at the unexpected appearance of 

 such visitors. 



"We can get them yet, sir," said the half-breed, "for 

 they are white-tailed deer ; and after running a short time 

 they will make for the river, and we can get there before 

 them." 



To the river wo accordingly ran at our best speed ; but 

 that was slow enough, owing to the quantity of fallen tim- 

 ber that strewed the ground, and the tropical luxuriance 

 of the salmon and whortleberries which were entwined to- 

 gether in thick, tangled masses. We were there, however, 

 and had taken up our posts, before the musical chorus of 

 the pack began to approach us. Every eye then peered 

 vigilantly into the gloomy, silent woods, as if they would 

 penetrate the leafy coverts, and all assumed an air that indi- 

 cated a thorough determination not to be caught napping 

 again. The cry now became loud and clamorous, and so 



