286 HUNTING TRIPS 



and hung him up by the heels to a branch 

 of a tree, piling the brush around as if build- 

 ing a slight pen or trap, to keep off the coy- 

 otes; who, anyhow, are not apt to harm 

 game that is hanging up, their caution seem- 

 ing to make them fear that it will not be safe 

 to do so. In such cold weather a deer hung 

 up in this way will keep an indefinite length 

 of time ; and the carcass was all right when 

 a week or two afterwards we sent out the 

 buck-board to bring it back. 



A stout buck-board is very useful on a 

 ranch, where men are continually taking 

 short trips on which they do not wish to be 

 encumbered by the heavy ranch wagon. 

 Pack ponies are always a nuisance, though 

 of course an inevitable one in making jour- 

 neys through mountains or forests. But on 

 the plains a buck-board is far more handy. 

 The blankets and provisions can be loaded 

 upon it, and it can then be given a definite 

 course to travel or point to reach ; ancT mean- 

 while the hunters, without having their horses 

 tired by carrying heavy packs, can strike off 



