A DEATH SCENE. 127 



' After a weary drag through several hundred yards, 

 I came opposite to a clump of wormwood bushes grow- 

 ing out of the bank. " I may be high enough," 

 thought I ; " these will serve for cover." 



* I raised my body gradually till I could see right 

 through the leaves. I was in the right spot. 



' I brought my rifle to a level, sighted for the heart 

 of the buck, and fired. The animal leaped from the 

 ground and fell back lifeless. 



' I was about to rush forward and secure my prize 

 when I observed the doe, instead of running off, as I 

 expected, go up to her fallen partner, and press her 

 tapering nose to his body. She was not more than 

 twenty yards from me, and I could plainly see that her 

 look was one of enquiry and bewilderment. All at 

 once she seemed to comprehend the fatal truth, and, 

 throwinir back her head, commenced uttering^ the most 

 piteous cries, at the same time running in circles around 

 the body. I stood wavering between two minds. My 

 first impulse had been to reload and kill the doe ; but 

 her plaintive voice entered my heart, disarming me of 

 all hostile intentions. Had I dreamt of witnessino- this 

 painful spectacle, I should not have left the trail. But 

 the mischief was now done. " I have worse than killed 

 her," thought I ; " it will be better to despatch her at 

 once." 



' Actuated by these principles of common, but to her 

 fatal, humanity, I rested the but of my rifle and re- 



