154 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



water), rolled down my sleeves, took up my rifle, and 

 resumed my hunt; Dash falling again to heel, his head 

 always just far enough ahead of my leg to clear my scent, 

 and so he would go all day long. 



I had gone, perhaps, half a mile, when I caught a 

 glimpse of white passing rapidly into some bushes. I ran 

 ahead, and through the thicket saw the form of a Deer 

 walking rapidly. I threw up my rifle and flred, but the 

 brush plainly turned the bullet; for the Deer, a noble doe, 

 broke through the bushes, ran directly toward me, and 

 stood looking every way for the quarter the noise had come 

 from. Her form was crouched, her legs were bent, ready 

 to spring; I had barely time to sight up to her brisket and 

 fire. She made a few great lunges, and fell dead, not a rod 

 from me. A fine fawn rushed after and past her. I hastened 

 on his trail, and he stood looking back. It was somewhat 

 pitiful, but the dam was dead, it was so much meat, and I 

 took him in with a broken neck, not to spoil his flesh. 



At the shots, my son gave a whoop, which I answered, 

 and he came bounding toward me with every sign of alarm. 



' ' Father, the mist is coming, and before we can get these 

 Deer prepared, it will be so thick about us that we can not 

 see ten rods. The sun is hidden already, and we have no 

 compasses with us. Hurry! " 



And hurry we did. We drew the Deer across a log for 

 recognition, and started just short of a run. Before we 

 reached my buck, the mist had come rolling down the 

 mountain-side, obscuring everything at two rods' distance, 

 and turning the day to night. 



Bates is a brave boy, but now he was alarmed. We had 

 entered a thick growth of black fir, where we had to force 

 our way, and where every landmark was lost, and we could 

 not tell the direction in which we were going. Bates 

 stopped, leaned on his gun, and, in a most serious tone, 

 said: 



"Father, we are in a bad fix. All depends, now, on my 

 keeping my head level, or we may have to stay out days 

 and nights. Please don't give me any counsel, or object to 



