320 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



inspected the track, and I had not even the gratifi- 

 cation to find blood. Well, Will was for giving it up, 

 but I wanted to follow it out ; and after using all his 

 powers of persuasion and argument in favour of his 

 views, rny friend succumbed, and consented for once 

 to be dictated to. 



For over a mile we followed our game. The line 

 was straight and the tracks distinct ; moreover, the 

 gait was steady, if one could judge from the regularity 

 of the impressions ; and there was nought to indicate 

 that we might not with as great propriety follow any 

 animal in these bottom lands that had never had a, shot 

 fired at him. Will was going ahead, leading, and your 

 humble servant bringing up the rear, when the former 

 suddenly halted and turned round. From the expres- 

 sion of his face I knew something was up, but was 

 scarcely prepared for the information he gave. " Look 

 here/' said Will ; " you have hit that deer, Cap., 

 tolerably badly, and I suspect we shall get him yet ; 

 his fore leg is disabled, and he can't travel far without 

 our overhauling him." On inquiring how he gained 

 his information, he pointed to the tracks ; and sure 

 enough the off fore-foot, instead of making a clean im- 

 pression, cut the snow for nearly a foot both before 

 and after. "You see," said he, chuckling, "he don't 

 use both alike, for it's all he can do to get this one 



