294 HUNTING TRIPS 



they lay I found I had pulled a little to one 

 side, and the bullet had broken the backs of 

 both. While my companion was dressing 

 them I went back and paced off the distance. 

 It was just four hundred and thirty-one long 

 paces ; over four hundred yards. Both were 

 large bucks and very fat, with the velvet 

 hanging in shreds from their antlers, for it 

 was late in August. The day was waning 

 and we had a long ride back to the wagon, 

 each with a buck behind his saddle. When we 

 came back to the river valley it was pitch 

 dark, and it was rather ticklish work for our 

 heavily laden horses to pick their way down 

 the steep bluffs and over the rapid stream; 

 nor were we sorry when we saw ahead under 

 a bluff the gleam of the camp fire, as it was 

 reflected back from the canvas-topped prairie 

 schooner, that for the time being represented 

 home to us. 



Tkis was much the best shot I ever made ; 

 and it is just such a shot as any one will 

 occasionally make if he takes a good many 

 chances and fires often at ranges where the 



