5 o HUNTING TRIPS 



turning in the least from the line the first 

 followed, and thus may pass within close 

 range. If the leader bounds into the air, 

 those following will often go through exactly 

 the same motions ; and if he turns, the others 

 are very apt to each in succession run up 

 and turn in the same place, unless the whole 

 band are manoeuvring together, like a squad- 

 ron of cavalry under orders, as has already 

 been spoken of. 



After securing the buck's hams and head 

 (the latter for the sake of the horns, which 

 were unusually long and fine), I pushed 

 rapidly on without stopping to hunt, to reach 

 some large creek which should contain both 

 wood and water, for even in summer a fire 

 adds greatly to the comfort and cosiness of 

 a night camp. When the sun had nearly set 

 we went over a divide and came in sight of 

 a creek fulfilling the required conditions. It 

 wound its way through a valley of rich bot- 

 tom land, cotton-wood trees of no great 

 height or size growing in thick groves along 

 its banks, while its bed contained many deep 



