SO AMERICAN GAME. 



following his trail by the day, by the week, by the 

 month, till a fresh snow effaces his tracks, and leaves the 

 hunter at the last, as he was at the first of the chase ; 

 less only the fatigue, the disappointment and the folly. 

 Therefore, by woodsmen, whether white or red skinned, 

 he is followed only on those rare occasions when snows of 

 unusual depth are crusted over to the very point at 

 which they will not quite support this fleet and power- 

 ful stag. Then the toil is too great even for his vast 

 endurance, and he can be run dow r n by the speed of men, 

 inured to the sport, and to the hardships of the t wilder- 

 ness, but by them only. Indians by hundreds in the 

 provinces, and many loggers and hunters in the Eastern 

 States, can take and keep his trail in suitable weather 

 the best time is the latter end of February or the begin- 

 ning of March ; the best weather is when a light, fresh 

 snow of some three or four inches has fallen on the top 

 of deep drifts and a solid crust ; the fresh snow giving 

 the means of following the trail ; the firm crust yielding 

 a support to the broad snow-shoes and enabling the 

 stalkers to trail with silence and celerity combined. 

 Then they crawl onward, breathless and voiceless, up 

 wind always, following the foot prints of the wandering, 

 pasturing, wantoning deer ; judging by signs, unmistak- 

 able to the veteran hunter, unclistinguishable to the 

 novice, of the distance or proximity of their game, until 

 they steal upon the herd unsuspected, and either finish 

 the day with a sure shot and a triumphant whoop ; or 



