Deer- Hunting on the Au Sable. 249 



his German equanimity, how Jack and Pedro had run in a large 

 buck, which immediately swam down the middle of the river. He 

 fired from his place on the side of a bluff and missed. At the 

 second shot, he succeeded in hitting the deer in the neck just below 

 the mastoid something or other. As if this were not sufficient, there 

 presently appeared and crossed the river a very pretty fawn, whose 

 young hopes were promptly blighted. They said it was not always 

 that the first day yielded even one deer, and it was an excellent 

 augury. During the afternoon, Curtis brought both deer up to 

 camp and dressed them. The buck was finely antlered and was 

 estimated to weigh over two hundred pounds. 



The next day I was appointed to the same run-way, and I took 

 my stand, and, acting on the advice of the others, built a brave little 

 fire. Deer being driven into the river or swimming down it pay no 

 attention to a small fire, and the making of it and the keeping it 

 alive furnish excellent occupation. Indeed, there is something quite 

 fascinating about building a fire in the woods, and it is quite 

 inexplicable what a deep concern all the little details of its com- 

 bustion create in even really thoughtful minds. My fire burned 

 cheerily and blew lots of sharp smoke into my eyes, with the aid of 

 the fitful wind ; but I was not called upon to shoot any deer. I did 

 not even hear the dogs, and at two o'clock I went home to camp, 

 persuaded that I had not yet learned to appreciate our style of 

 hunting. Our captain had a handsome young buck and was in a 

 wholly comfortable frame of mind. 



We had a larded saddle of venison during the afternoon for 

 dinner. It was flanked by a dish of steaming bacon and cabbage 

 and quantities of mealy potatoes and fried onions. The fragrance 

 that filled the air of the cabin surpassed the most delicate of vapors 

 that ever escaped from one of Delmonico's covers, and we fell upon 

 the table with appetites like that of the gifted ostrich. The air of the 

 Sable would be worth any amount of money in New York. 



The next day I passed in a meditative fashion on my run-way. I 

 was not disturbed by any deer, but Mr. M. and Mr. B. each scored 

 one. The next evening, one of the dogs, foot-sore and worn out, 

 remained in the woods. His master and one other sallied out into the 

 inky darkness to look for him at points near which they deemed it 

 probable he would have lain down. They took a lantern, without 



