20 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



noting 1 a break in the forest ; if the hitter, by the smoke of the 

 lire, whieh is nearly always kept burning. I have found a 

 good long lariat useful for climbing the gigantic- trees of the 

 Pacific, as the boughs are so high up and the trunks so thick 

 that no ordinary person can reach their summit without some 

 such assistance as the lariat gives; and it is exceedingly 

 useful for swinging at once out of the reach of an angry bear. 



In trailing animals one may, after a little experience, tell 

 their size by the spread of the feet on the ground ; their 

 weight, by the depth of the impression made; the speed at 

 which they moved, by the intervals between the paces ; the 

 length of time since they passed over a spot, by the freshness 

 of the tracks; and whether they were startled or not, by the 

 condition of the grass, leaves, or soft ground. 



If they have been wounded seriously, it may be detected by 

 drops of blood, or by the irregular and straddling character of 

 the gait ; hence it may be said that a habit of close observation 

 of the imprints on the earth will reveal to one the names of 

 animals that visit a region, their motives in travelling, and 

 their condition and numbers, almost as readily as if he saw 

 them before him. 



All game quadrupeds should be hunted up wind, seldom across 

 it, and never down, as scent is to them what sight is to birds 

 and feeling to mankind. The best time for pursuing them is 

 the early morning or late evening, as they rest during the day. 



A good idea would be to carry a field-glass. I have found 

 it of great use in many cases, and have seen game with it that 

 otherwise wonld be lost to us. This is especially true in hunt- 

 ing on the mountains and prairies, as many animals look so 

 much like their surroundings that, even when in motion,, they 

 cannot be seen at any great distance. 



No persons should start out in the morning without partaking 

 of something to eat, even if it were only a biscuit or a cup of tea 

 or coffee, as any of these fortifies the stomach against the chills 

 of the morning, and prevents the nausea of hunger. 1 have 

 known several sturdy and enthusiastic sportsmen to be injured 

 by their habit of starting out at daybreak to kill something 

 before breakfast, not that it was wanted, but that they wished 



