A DAY AT CHEE-HA. 179 



with some baser admixture indeed, through Boxer, 

 Medley, Gimcrack, to the Godolphin Arabian) 

 refused to trample on his fellow quadruped ; and, in 

 in spite of the goading spur, ranged up close along 

 side of the buck, as if his only pride lay in surpass- 

 ing him in speed. This brought me in close con- 

 tact with the buck. Detaching my right foot from 

 the stirrup, I struck the armed heel of my boot 

 full against his head ; he reeled from the blow and 

 plunged into a neighboring thicket too close for 

 horse to enter. I fling myself from my horse, and 

 pursue on foot he gains on me : I dash down my 

 now useless gun, and, freed from all encumbrance, 

 press after the panting animal. A large, fallen oak 

 lies across his path ; he gathers himself up for the 

 leap, and falls exhausted directly across it. Before he 

 could recover his legs, and while he lay thus poised 

 on the tree, I fling myself at full length upon the 

 body of the struggling deer my left hand clasps 

 his neck, while my right detaches the knife ; whose 

 fatal blade, in another moment, is buried in his 

 throat. There he lay in his blood, and I remained 

 sole occupant of the field. I seize my horn, but am 

 utterly breathless, and incapable of sounding it : I 

 strive to shout, but my voice is extinct from fatigue 

 and exhaustion. I retrace my steps, while the 

 waning light yet sufBced to show me the track of 



