A SHOT. ox 



and waving tail, stood a beautiful doe. Quick as 

 thought she darted away, but when she had gone 

 about 25 or 30 rods stopped again. At first I could 

 not see her, for she had halted behind a clump of 

 bushes ; but at length I observed a reddish spot, about 

 the size of the crown of my cap, between the leaves. 

 I hesitated to shoot, for I knew it was the broadside, 

 and one of -my small bullets (my rifle carries 83 to the 

 pound) planted there, might not fetch her down till 

 she had run ten miles. However, it was my only 

 chance, so I took a steady aim, and fired. A wild 

 spring into the open forest told me she was hit, and as 

 she leaped madly away, the tail she carried a moment 

 before like a plume, was hugged close to her legs. 

 Hence I was not surprised when I came to where she 

 had stood, to find large drops of blood on the leaves. 

 I took the trail and followed on. It was slow work, 

 without a dog, and how far I went I know not, but I 

 did not give it up till the increasing darkness blotted 

 the traces frDm my sight. I then turned to go back, 

 but, alas, had not the slightest idea of the course I 

 had traveled ; and the sun being now down, and the 

 high trees blotting out everything but a little space of 

 sky overhead, I was utterly & a loss which way to 



