126 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



wind up the slope. A word, and the hound was crouching at 

 my feet, and my trained Cherokee, with ear erect and flashing 

 eye, watched the course of the affrighted animal. 



" On the very summit of the ridge, full one hundred and fifty 

 yards, every limb standing out in bold relief against the clear 

 blue sky, the stag paused, and looked proudly down upon us 

 After a moment of indecision, I raised my rifle, and sent the whiz- 

 zing lead upon its errand. A single bound, and the antlered 

 monarch was hidden from my view. Hastily running down a 

 ball, I ascended the slope ; my blood ran a little faster as I saw 

 the ' gouts of blood' which stained the withered leaves where he 

 had stood. One moment more, and the excited hound was leap- 

 ing breast high on his trail, and the gallant Cherokee bore his 

 rider like lightning after .them. 



"Away — away! for hours we did thus hasten on, without 

 once being at fault or checking our headlong speed. The chase 

 had led us miles from the starting-point, and now appeared to be 

 bearing up a creek, on one side of which arose a precipitous hill, 

 some two miles in length, which I knew the wounded animal 

 would never ascend. 



" Half a mile farther on, another hill reared its bleak and bar- 

 ren head on the opposite side of the rivulet. Once fairly in the 

 gorge, there was no exit save at the upper end of the ravine. 

 Here, then, I must intercept my game, which I was able to do 

 by taking a nearer cut over the ridge, that saved at least a mile. 



" Giving one parting shout to cheer my dog, Cherokee bore me 

 headlong to the pass. I had scarcely arrived, when, black with 

 sweat, the stag came laboring up the gorge, seemingly totally 

 reckless of our presence. Again I poured forth the ' leaden mes- 

 senger of death,' as meteor-like he flashed by us. One bound, 

 and the noble animal lay prostrate within fifty feet of where I 

 stood. Leaping from my horse, and placing one knee upon his 

 shoulder, and a hand upon his antlers, I drew my hunting-knife ; 



