23 HINTS ON FOEEST AND PRAIRIE LIFE. 



shooting rarely succeeded during the evening's hunt, 

 as it was too late for them. Dogs were very seldom 

 used to trail a wounded deer. The hunters preferred 

 to follow him, if possible, by means of the drops of 

 blood upon the grass and leaves, being of opinion that 

 the barking of a dog would disturb the other game, 

 and so spoil the forest for our hunting purposes ; but 

 still, rather than lose the game altogether, a single 

 dog would be put upon the trail. 



The routine of daily life was something in this style : 

 Before daylight, the man whose duty it was to take 

 care of the camp during the day, roused his comrades, 

 who at once started up, and prepared their hunting- 

 gear for the morning's sport ; and while this was doing, 

 the camp-keeper would replenish the smouldering fire, 

 and prepare a cup of hot coffee, with just a suspicion 

 of whisky in it. Long before the sights of the rifle 

 were plainly visible the hunters were away, each 

 taking his beat in the forest as previously agreed 

 upon. 



While they were absent, the camp-keeper's duty 

 was to sweep out the hut, roll up the blankets, and 

 procure wood for the fire, as well as to stake the 

 horses in a fresh pasturage. When he had done this, 

 green coffee-beans had to be parched in the frying- 

 pan, and ground, so as to make another jorum of hot 

 strong coffee against the return of his companions. 



According to their success the hunters were early 



