"92 PEAIKIE AND FOEEST. 



Tisitor or resident who owns or can borrow a gun. How- 

 ever, good sport with them can be obtained in many of the 

 Southern and Western States, more especially in Texas, 

 and in the country traversed by the upper waters of the 

 Brazos, Red and Canadian rivers. If driven into the open 

 country they are easily overtaken and pulled down by a 

 strong greyhound. Shot or ball are indifferently used in 

 their pursuit, choice in your projectiles being guided by 

 whether the nature of the country is open or wooded. 



The following experiences in its pursuit will give an 

 idea of its habits, and the localities where the sportsman 

 may find them. Near Vincennes, Indiana, I once knew a 

 man who was pretty nearly master of the art of deer- 

 stalking, and he could as well discriminate a good day for 

 this purpose from an indifferent one as he could a 

 thoroughbred from a mustang. " No use going out to- 

 day, Cap.," he would say, in answer to an inquiry ; " the 

 woodpeckers have got their heads up, and the deer are 

 lying : best stop at home " ; and best it always was. 



It was in the month of December or January, I cannot 

 precisely state which, but on rising from my bed, to my 

 surprise I found the ground covered with a few inches of 

 snow, just sufficient, and none to spare, to track a deer 

 with a degree of certainty. Now, I was hungry for 

 venison, and such a chance was not to be let slip. From 

 a very bad habit which is unaccountable among many 

 when they go from home, I had a morning cocktail 

 brewed, and with a glass in each hand sought the dormi- 

 tory of my friend, and over this beverage we discussed the 

 prospects and our plan of campaign. 



