218 A PAINFUL SCENE. 



It was no easy task ; the bed of the creek was 

 soft and yielding, and he was compelled to tread 

 slowly and silently lest he should alarm the game, 

 but he was cheered in his exertions by the prospect 

 of fresh venison for supper. After a weary drag of 

 several hundred yards, he came opposite to a small 

 clump of wormwood-bushes growing out of the 

 bank. " I may be high enough," he thought ; 

 " these will serve for cover." 



Raising his body gradually, he looked through 

 the leaves. He was in the right spot ; and bring- 

 ing his rifle to a level he fired at the buck. The 

 animal sprang from the ground and fell back life- 

 less. The Captain was about to rush forward and 

 secure the prize, when he observed the doe, instead 

 of running off, as he had expected, go up to her 

 fallen partner and press her tapering nose to his 

 body. She was near enough for him plainly to see 

 that her look was one of bewilderment and inquiry. 

 All at once she seemed to comprehend the fatal 

 truth, and, throwing back her head, commenced 

 uttering the most piteous cries, at the same time 

 running in circles around the body. 



The sight was too much for the compassionate 

 feelings of Captain Reid. " Had I dreamed," he 

 says, " of witnessing this painful spectacle I should 

 not have left the trail. But the mischief was now 

 done. ' I have worse than killed her,' I thought 



