OS PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



justify us in hoping early success. Although perseve- 

 rance is generally rewarded, it was not so on this 

 occasion. Hour after hour slipped by, the game ap- 

 peared to moderate its pace in accordance with ours, 

 just keeping sufficiently ahead to be out of range. 

 The badness of the walking (for a thaw had com- 

 menced), the continued disappointment, and the diffi- 

 culty of following through the bush, commenced 

 to operate upon our spirits, and, but that we struck 

 a more open range of country where the travel- 

 ling was better, doubtless we would have given 

 up. However, being in the vicinity of our ponies, 

 we determined to continue the pursuit on horseback, 

 hoping to get a view, in crossing some opening, 

 where we could give the buck a run of a few minutes, 

 with the expectation that a sharper gait might 

 break him down ; but luck continued adverse. Time 

 was rapidly gliding by, a few hours more would bring 

 on night, and as far as we could see, the pros- 

 pect of a termination was as distant as ever. Want 

 of success or fatigue made us careless, and as we 

 slowly wended our unthankful way first one in front, 

 then the other, talking aloud, deploring our misfortune, 

 and paying but little attention to the surroundings, 

 unsportsmanlike on such an occasion my pony (for 

 I was in front) suddenly shied, turning almost com- 

 pletely round, and at the same time brought me 

 excessively near getting a spill. And what do you 

 imagine was the cause of this want of propriety in so 

 experienced a steed ? Simply this : the deer had lain 

 down, and we had almost ridden over him. To wheel 

 round and try to bring my gun to bear was the work 

 of a few seconds, but all my exertions and rapidity of 



