284 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



tail !" He is ecstatic upon " buffalo hump," and sups his 

 divinest inspiration from a gourd of " bar's grease." What 

 knows he, then, of that "dim religious awe" within the 

 natural temples of the Most High, at which I have hinted ! 

 Not he ! He has become in these temples what the world 

 calls a practical priest, and cuts up the "flesh offerings" 

 like a saw, as harsh and as steely hard ! 



But to return to our story. The day's hunt had been an 

 unusually exciting one. We hunted deer after the following 

 fashion. These animals feed principally upon the open 

 prairie, but about eleven o'clock, A. M. they may be seen in 

 long lines sauntering towards the nearest wood, which usually, 

 throughout Texas, grows upon the margin of the small lakes 

 or banks of streams. 



They are now going to water, and repose in the shade 

 until three or four o'clock in the afternoon, when they come 

 out to feed again. The deer of the prairies is a very swift 

 variety, with smaller antlers than the common buck of our 

 forests bears. We stationed ourselves some half a mile dis- 

 tant in the prairie on fleet horses, some who were most skilled 

 with the common " lasso" of the country, and others with our 

 holster pistols, as in my own case. A negro " driver," as he 

 is called, was then sent in with dogs on the opposite side of 

 the wood to drive the deer out upon the plain ; for, contrary 

 to the usage of the common deer, this creature of the plains 

 makes always for open ground directly when pursued, and we 

 awaiting their exit chased them by sight on our horses. We had 

 but little time to wait, for within twenty minutes out burst a 

 numerous herd. It was a splendid sight as they came plunging 

 into the long grass and sunshine, out from the dark shadows 

 suddenly, with their white throats, their " antlered pride" 

 thrown back, and round ears laid sharp behind to hearken 

 the pursuing cry of "bell-mouthed" hound. It is one of the 

 most exciting scenes I know in the sports of our country. 



We reined up our horses for the start ; bending forward 



