THE STILL HUNT. 141 



vanced safely. As I arrived, the deer whisked his tail 

 and looked round. Waiting a moment, to my great dis- 

 comfiture he turned his face toward me, and then com- 

 nienced eatincj asjain. This was a state of afitiirs that I 

 had not anticipated, for it shut me out from a view of 

 that barometer tail. However, I calculated the time 

 during which he would probably feed, and made a short 

 advance. The deer now turned quarteringly toward me, 

 and, taking advantage of this change, with my eye fixed 

 upon him, I was hastily advancing, when something dis- 

 turbed the animal before his usual time. I laid down 

 flat on the grass, with my rifle before me, as the buck, 

 now within shot, raised his crowned head, and took a 

 long and deliberate survey of the ground. There seemed 

 to be some latent suspicion in his mind, for, though not 

 seeing me, he yet looked all around him several times, 

 and then over me, and finally commenced walking 

 dii'ectly toward me. I slowly elevated my rifle on my 

 left hand, my elbow all the Avhile on the ground. The 

 piece reached its level — my heart beat as though it was 

 tuggmg with the blood that flowed through it — the deer 

 was at a close shot, and all the time coming nearer, yet 

 I could not aim correctly. Still on he came toward me, 

 his ears turned back and forth, his head stretching for- 

 ward, his nose dilating as he snuffed the air, and his eyes 

 seeming to look me through. I summoned my courage, 

 and held my breath ; every sense seemed to pause while 

 I sighted for the white breast not forty yards off". Dear 

 me ! the gun was not cocked. A pause was required for 



