THE TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG 



run they found that the Stag, having 

 failed to divert the chase to himself, 

 had returned to her, and at sundown 

 they sighted them a quarter of a mile 

 ahead mounting a long snow-slope* 

 The doe was walking slowly, with 

 hanging head and ears. The buck 

 was running about as though in 

 trouble that he did not understand, 

 and coming back to caress the doe 

 and wonder why she walked so 

 slowly. In another half-mile the 

 hunters came up with them* She 

 was down in the snow* When 

 he saw them coming, the great 

 Stag shook the oak-tree on his 

 brow and circled about in doubt, 

 then fled from a foe he was power- 

 less to resist* 



62 



