THE STILL HUNT. 79 



of the river, a solitary cormorant watched his primeval realm, 

 where 



" Unheeded spreads the blossomed bud 

 Its milky bosom to the bee, 

 Unheeded falls along the flood 

 The desolate and aged tree. " 



This was a great pasture for the deer, and ever since the 

 creation hundreds had spent the nights here, retiring with the 

 heat of the sun to the closer cover of the pines. 



" I haint seen that air buck's tracks agin," said Mike ; " I rather 

 think he haint got in yet. We '11 go a leetle further on to this 

 ridge; he will likely come down that way, I reckon. Come, 

 Yowler ; " and taking the long ear of his dog in his hand to pre- 

 vent him taking to the meadow, we ran on to the ridge. By the 

 side of the ridge we found quite a well-beaten deer path leading 

 through an opening in the fringe of trees that surrounded the 

 meadow, and through this, from time immemorial, doubtless, the 

 great horned herds had wound their way in and out at their 

 pleasure. Here, too, were found tracks of wild hogs, and Mike 

 pointed out to me a broad footprint of the cougar or panther that 

 had been made only the night before. 



It was agreed that I should lie here concealed behind some 

 branches with my eye on the path leading from the woods, while 

 Mike should go around in the woods and see what had become of 

 the buck. In a moment he was gone, and I was left lying on my 

 breast, with my rifle ready cocked before me, watching the lonely 

 path that led into the forest. 



As soon as Mike was out of sight I began to feel that loneliness 

 and shadowy presence that is often with one when in a great forest, 

 particularly if unaccustomed to its solitude. The stillness, the 

 majesty of the woods, the strange insects crawling about, the 

 flickering light that complexes the eye, the heart counting the 

 time with heavy throbs, the apprehension of making a noise, all 

 press on the senses with a bewildering power. I felt this, and 

 longed for the deer or Mike, I cared but little which. I sighted 

 my rifle, and tried to determine from which way the deer would 

 first come, feeling certain he was mine if he appeared. 



