A BUSINESS DAY AT CHEE-HA. 207 



ears, winch riveted my attention. Could he hear 

 what was inaudible to me ? I listened and it did 

 seem to me that I heard the cry of hounds. Was 

 it fancy ? No ! it is too distinct for that ! and 

 hark ! they approach. The distinguishing notes of 

 the leading hounds could now be heard ; but they 

 dropped in at intervals, as if they were running at 

 wide distances in a w r eary chase. Aye, they near 

 me ! and, by the sound, are bearing down directly 

 for this spot ! and my pulse beat high with expec- 

 tation, as settling myself in my saddle, I glanced 

 my eye over lock and barrel to see that all was right. 

 The pack were still nearly a mile distant, when a 

 deer sprang suddenly from the thicket into the 

 ravine before me and stood. It was a peg-horned 

 buck; he turned his head back, and pricked his 

 delicate ears in the direction of the cry ; then, 

 after a moment's pause, as if to determine his 

 course, he leaped forward to gain the river. There 

 was an air of security about him, amounting almost 

 to playfulness, and he threw up his hind legs with 

 a sort of gambolling motion, as much as to say to 

 his pursuers : " That for you, you wide-mouth'd 

 curs ! your throats are good, but as for your legs 

 that for you ; and when you get thus far a cool 

 swim to you across the Ashepoo !" 



I sat motionless on my horse until lie had ap- 



