TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG} 



It was nearly night before the trail 

 warmed up, but even then, in spite 

 of Yan's earnest protest, they drove 

 on in the sleigh. And soon they 

 came to where the trail told of seven 

 keen observers looking backward 

 from a hill, then an even sevenfold 

 chain of twenty-five-foot bounds. 

 The hunters got no glimpse at all, 

 but followed till the night came 

 down, then hastily camped in the 

 snow. 



In the morning they followed as 

 before, and soon came to where 

 seven spots of black, bare ground 

 showed where the deer had slept. 



Now when the trail grew warm 

 Yan insisted on hunting on foot. He 



trailed the deer into a great thicket, 

 58 



