144 Hills and Lakes. 



goin', an enormous buck broke, with the speed of a 

 race-liorse from the thicket of underbrush that had 

 concealed hhu, directly towards where I was standin'. 

 I was ready, and as he came within a few rods of me, 

 I fired. He leaped high into the air, and fell to the 

 ground. My huntin' knife was soon passed across his 

 throat, and his struggles were over. It was a noble 

 buck. I have been a hunter ever since, and I have 

 seen few larger than the one I shot that morning. 



" In the meantime, the dogs swept by me in full 

 cry towards where the Yorkers were stationed. It 

 seemed that two deer had been started by the hounds? 

 and had ran together, until they struck the ridge on 

 which I stood, when one had turned suddenly from 

 his course, and the other fled forward. I heard two 

 shots in quick succession. In a few minutes the 

 music of the dogs ceased, and I knew the chase was 

 over. I passed down to the Yorkers, and found them 

 rejoicin' over a fine doe they had slain. Both had 

 fired upon her — the one woundin', and the other killin' 

 her. They supposed she had passed me, and took 

 it for gTanted I had missed her. Old Pete came in. 

 He had heard my first shot, and supposed of course, I 

 had been firin' at some triflin' game. The old man 



