A Christmas Buck 



out to feed; and his restlessness cost 

 him his life. 



As we now knew just where he was, the 

 work was easy. We marked a place on 

 the hill-top a little above and to one side 

 of him ; and while the cow-boy remained 

 to watch him, I drew back and walked 

 leisurely round to where I could get a 

 shot. When nearly up to the crest I 

 crawled into view of the patch of brush, 

 rested my elbows on the ground, and 

 gently tapped two stones together. The 

 buck rose nimbly to his feet, and at 

 seventy yards afforded me a standing 

 shot, which I could not fail to turn to 

 good account. 



A winter day is short, and twilight had 

 come before we had packed both bucks 

 on the horses ; but with our game behind 

 our saddles we did not feel either fatigue, 

 or hunger or cold, while the horses trotted 

 steadily homeward. The moon was a 

 49 



