DEIYING DEEE. 105 



with speculations as to the quantity and quality of 

 game which the day's sport will produce. 



One of the hunters who best knows the ground 

 volunteers to act as ^ driver,' for that requires a know- 

 ledge of the game haunts, and of the points at which 

 the deer enter the drive; the remainder of the party 

 hurry off to various stands which the deer are likely to 

 pass when roused from their lairs. Some, whose steeds 

 are restive, dismount as soon as they reach their stands, 

 and tie up their horses out of sight, while others very 

 calmly remain in the saddle. The latter have the best 

 chance of killing game, as they are ready to gallop in 

 any direction when the quarry is running before the 

 hounds ; being in this guided by their knowledge of 

 the woods and the cry of the hounds. 



During the interval — generally a short one in Texas 

 — which elapses before the game is started by the dogs, 

 each man carefully examines his weapon — rifle or shot- 

 gun, as the case may be. If the hunter be armed with 

 the latter, each barrel carries a dozen buck-shot, ' blue 

 whistlers ' they are termed ; if a rifle, a single bullet 

 well aimed is sufficient to roll over the stoutest buck in 



his tracks. 



A good acquaintance with the country, and the 

 points where the deer are most likely to pass, does not 

 constitute the only information which the hunter should 

 possess, although an ordinary hunter can often kill deer, 

 guided by such scanty knowledge alone. There are many 



