I 7 8 HUNTING TRIPS 



animal had broken cover, but though there 

 were fresh deer tracks leading both in and 

 out of it, none of them were made by a crip- 

 ple; so we knew he was still within. It 

 would seem to be a very easy task to track 

 up and kill a broken-legged buck in light 

 snow ; but we had to go very cautiously, 

 for though with only three legs he could 

 still run a good deal faster than either of us 

 on two, and we were anxious not to alarm 

 him and give him a good start. Then there 

 were several well-beaten cattle trails 

 through the thicket, and in addition to that 

 one or two other deer had been walking to 

 and fro within it ; so that it was hard work 

 to follow the tracks. After working some 

 little time we hit on the right trail, finding 

 where the buck had turned into the thickest 

 growth. While Ferris followed carefully 

 in on the tracks, I stationed myself farther 

 on toward the outside, knowing that the 

 buck would in all likelihood start up wind. 

 In a minute or two Ferris came on the bed 

 where he had passed the night, and which 



