THE FIRE HUNTEK. 



ject tlian lie would readily confess to while Slouch 

 continued : 



" I'll hardly let you scare off this one, I tell you ! 

 I know the distance by the size of the eyes ; and it 

 took me fifty shots to know that, as I know it now. 

 You'd be for sneaking up till you could see their 

 horns ; but an old buck ain't a-going to let you get 

 that close, I tell you. He's the almightiest cunning 

 creature to get round. But, quiet now ; for we are 

 getting near. Don't speak a word, but follow me ; 

 for I'll keep in the shade made by your body so 

 throw the shadow right on me." 



They now entered the pea-field, nightly visited 

 by the deer ; and had advanced but fifty yards, 

 when, at a sudden turn,they came imexpectedly upon 

 a find antlered buck, feeding iipon the tempting 

 vines. He saw the men, as well as the fae and 

 stamping with his feet, and snuffing the air, which 

 seemed to him fraught with danger, bounded off so 

 suddenly, that Slouch lost the chance to fire. In 

 truth, he was only prepared for a standing shot ; 

 and the suddenness of the movement disconcerted 

 him. 



" Confound the fellow," said the fire-hunter ; " he 

 has cleared himself; but there's two of 'em and 

 we must keep a better lookout for the second !" 



They now moved through the field more warily 



