A DAY AT CHEE-HA. 173 



wrong. It proved to be a young deer, who did not 

 need the wind, and he made for the pass I had not 

 selected. The pack now turned ; we found from their 

 cry, that the deer had doubled, and our hearts beat 

 high with expectation, as mounted on our respective 

 hunters, we stretched ourselves across the old field 

 which he must necessarily traverse, before he could 

 regain the shelter of the wood. And now I saw my 

 veteran comrade stretch his neck as if he spied 

 something in the thicket ; then with a sudden fling 

 he brought his double barrel to his shoulder and 

 fired. His horse, admonished by the spur, then 

 fetched a caracole ; from the new position, a new 

 glimpse of the deer is gained and crack ! goes the 

 second barrel. In a few moments, I saw one of our 

 recruits dismount and fire. Soon after, the deer 

 made his appearance and approached the second, 

 who descended from his horse and fired. The deer 

 kept on seemingly untouched, and had gained the 

 crown of the hill when his second barrel brought 

 him to the ground in sight of the whole field. "We 

 all rode to the spot, to congratulate our novice on 

 his first exploit in sylvan warfare when, as he 

 stooped to examine the direction of his shot, our 

 friend Loveleap slipped his knife into the throat of 

 the deer, and before his purpose could be guessed at, 



bathed his face with the blood of his victim. (This, 

 112 



