266 



Hunting the Mule -Deer in Colorado. 



I shouldered my gun and 

 sadly prepared to cross to the 

 next undisturbed range. 



That night, as I sat silently 

 by the fire reviewing the day's 

 experience and disappointments, 

 — for I had tramped persever- 

 ingly and seen nothing to shoot, 

 — I had to take some good- 

 natured rallying from the older 

 Nimrods of the camp, who sus- 

 pected that I had that 

 day met some sadden- 

 ing disappointment. 

 "The boy aint nigh 

 so chirk an' 

 chipper to- 

 night ez he 



is usually," remarked 



Old Levi. " He's bin 



to school to-day. I 'xpect some 



ole buck up in the hills ez been 



playin' it fine on him." 



My next failure was but a 

 day or two later. Again I had 

 risen with the star, having passed 

 a bitter cold night in a deserted 



•-- 



AN ATTACK OF "BUCK FEVER." 



