186 ANOTHER DAY AT CHEE-HA. 



"Push on," says Geordy, "they make for the 

 river !" and away we went. We reined in for a 

 minute at the ford ; and finding that they had 

 already outstripped us and were bearing down for 

 Chapman's fort- a mile to the west of our position 

 we struck across for the marshes south of us, 

 where we might, if he was a young deer, intercept 

 him on his return to his accustomed haunts. If an 

 old buck, we had no chance ; lie is sure to set a 

 proper value on his life, and seldom stops until he 

 has put a river between his pursuer and himself. 



Taking advantage of a road that lay in our way, 

 we soon cleared the woods, and entered an old field 

 that skirted the marsh. It was a large waving plain 

 of rank broom-grass, chequered here and there by 

 strips of myrtle and marsh mallows. 



"So far, G-eordy," said I, "we have kept one 

 track now let us separate. The hounds are out of 

 hearing, and we have little chance of any game but 

 such as we may rouse without their help. How 

 delightfully sheltered is this spot ! how completely 

 is it shut in by that semi-circle of woods, from the 

 sweep of the northwest winds ! How genially the 

 sun pours down upon it ! Depend upon it, we shall 

 find some luxurious rogues basking in this warm 

 nook for next to your Englishman, a deer is the 

 greatest epicure alive! Now, then, by separate 



