FOLLOWING THE TRAIL. 97 



ground. " You see," said he, chuckling, " he don't use 

 both alike, for it's all he can do to get this one up." 

 There was no gainsaying such conclusive evidence, and 

 with renewed ardour we sharpened the pace of pursuit, 

 alternately changing places, one being constantly on the 

 look-out while the other tracked. Once or twice we got 

 sight of the deer, but too far off, or for too limited a 

 period, to shoot ; but the view was always cheering. For- 

 ward we pressed, exultingly hoping that each minute 

 would finish the hunt ; but the deer thought otherwise, for 

 he was of a most unaccommodating disposition. Soon it 

 became apparent that the confounded brute was travelling 

 the same circle, and that, unless we altered our plans, we 

 might be kept going till dark ; and as we were not disposed 

 to work harder than necessary, it was agreed that I should 

 drop behind and take up my stand in the most eligible 

 place, while Will continued the pursuit with the hope of 

 driving our wily foe past my ambush. Though the plan 

 was well devised, it failed in execution ; for after an hour's 

 tedious delay my companion rejoined me, disgusted and 

 dispirited, heaping anathemas upon the foe, pronouncing 

 him to be one of the very foxiest brutes he had ever come 

 across. After all our trouble, it would never do thus to be 

 defeated ; so I proposed doing the tracking while he took 

 a stand, at the same time changing guns at his request. 



Full of hope, and animated with the desire of distin- 

 guishing myself, I pushed forward with renewed energy. 

 At first the trail was tolerably clear, but, after some time, 

 it led and twisted in every direction through innumerable 

 hog-paths. Never was I so sorely puzzled to keep correct, 



7 



