2/o SPORTING ADVENTURES 



stout boughs upon them. Wo then put branches across the 

 main supports in the same manner as slats are in the ordinary 

 wooden bedstead, and these we covered with a generous supply 

 of the branchlets of pine, fur, and larch, until we had com- 

 pleted a fragrant couch fit for the gods. Over this we spread 

 our blankets ; and after pressing it once or twice to see that 

 it was soft, we were perfectly contented with it, and enjoyed, 

 in anticipation, a stretch upon it after the toils of a day's 

 hunting. Having partaken of a hearty dinner, we set out in 

 quest of deer ; but after a tramp of two hours we saw nothing 

 at which to fire, except some coveys of blue grouse, but as we 

 did not care to waste ammunition on them just then, we 

 allowed them to rest in peace. "While loitering along on our 

 way back to camp my friend called my attention to the outline 

 of a deer's head, which was visible through the shrubbery 

 about thirty or forty yards away. The animal was evidently 

 looking at us with the greatest curiosity, and trying to decide 

 to what species we belonged. As we were at a halt, and to 

 the leeward, it did not become alarmed, and I do not know how 

 long it would have remained staring at us had not my com- 

 panion asked me to fire at it. Taking deliberate aim, I pulled 

 the trigger slowly, and when the report ceased I heard a heavy 

 crashing in the undergrowth. On reaching the spot we found 

 a handsome doe lying dead, the ball having entered the skull 

 near the top, and come out at the back part. She was such a 

 handsome creature that I felt almost sorry for killing her, and 

 I actually wished her alive again. On looking at her I could 

 not help noting the ridiculous contrast which her huge, 

 awkward-looking ears and rat-like tail presented to her line 

 body and graceful limbs, and this caused me to think that 

 Nature must have some special purpose in view in com- 

 bining the graceful and the ludicrous in the same animal or 

 thing. 



Leaving her where she fell, we commenced beating down 

 and across the wind, and soon espied two docs and their fawns 

 a short distance ahead, but before we could fire at them they 

 went scurrying to the right, up the hill. Still onward we 

 toiled, but though we saw several fawns and their dams they 



