THE VIRGINIA DEER 141 



bounding lightly, not swiftly, just seeming to go fast 

 enouofh to tantalize the hounds. I had crouched as 

 low as circumstances would permit. Now or never. 

 They were within thirty yards. I raised quickly. 



" Bang ! Straight to the right fore-quarter, and the 

 hunt was over for the buck. As the doe wheeled 

 swiftly, she threw her broadside to me — a quick turn 

 and the left barrel brought her to the earth beside her 

 mate. In a second the dogs were on us, and I had my 

 troubles keeping them off. I beat them back as fast as 

 I could, and fired again and again to call the others. 

 Within ten minutes they came in." 



Mr. Seaman's interesting story indicates that the 

 deer circled and returned. This is a very common 

 thing for white-tail to do. When pursued by dogs, 

 they easily keep ahead of them, and, like rabbits, circle 

 about, often running to the exact spot whence they 

 started. This is well worth remembering by one who 

 goes to enjoy this most picturesque form of sport in 

 the South. 



Games are classified as games requiring skill and 

 games of chance. The game of whist is especially en- 

 joyable, since in it skill and chance are blended. Chess 

 is the game of pure skill unadulterated by any chance. 

 It is too much like work for many folks. Stalking the 

 white-tail is the sportsman's game of chess. It requires 

 the same long time to learn the game, and an immense 

 amount of practice to become a good player. It is a 

 game played with long, thoughtful pauses, followed by 

 careful moves, based on scientific reasons. The sports- 

 man's opponent in the game played in the woods is 

 always a good player. 



