102 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



short protracted jump, dropped his white tail close 

 into his hams, and with an increased pace disappeared 

 in the swamp. 



Unless the wound was mortal, or so severe as to 

 seriously incommode him, I was certain he would not 

 he satisfied to remain in such close propinquity to 

 danger, so after reloading I made a detour to find 

 where he had left this cover to seek one more retired. 

 My conjecture was correct, for after travelling nearly 

 half-a-mile, 1 found the familiar tell-tale track. The 

 snow was in pretty good order, both for tracking and 

 walking, and I did not let the grass grow under my 

 feet. As yet I had seen no signs of blood, which the 

 more thoroughly impressed me that my lead had made 

 more than a skin wound. In about an hour's walk- 

 ing, I found myself on the edge of another slough, 

 which 1 was hesitating whether to enter or go round, 

 when I espied my friend, some way beyond range, 

 going over a neighbouring swell of the prairie. Of 

 course I cut off the angle and cast forward to where 

 the view was obtained, and as I rose the swell, in the 

 distance I saw my friend at a stand- still, evidently 

 anxiously scrutinising my direction. My cap was of a 

 very light colour, so I concluded he did not see me, 

 and my supposition was again correct, for after a few 

 minutes he relaxed his pace, and turning at right 

 angles, walked into a small expanse of dense rushes, 

 interspersed with an occasional stunted willow. In 

 deer-shooting, if you suppose an animal severely 

 wounded, never hurry him ; if he once lie down, 

 and you give him time to stiffen, you will not have 

 half the trouble in his ultimate capture that you 

 would have by constantly keeping him on the move. 



