IN THE FAR WEST. 299 



slain were then collected together and placed under the care of 

 the oldest member of the company, who found the exercise of 

 the morning 1 too severe for even his hardy frame, as he had 

 been compelled to run a good deal. While moving towards 

 the hills the hounds started two deer, but instead of running 

 upwards they broke for the river at once, and the dogs soon 

 lost them there, at least we presumed they did ; but the guide 

 attributed the cause of their speedy return to the fact that 

 they had been fed too much on the viscera of those captured, 

 and they, therefore, did not feel much in the mood for running. 

 On resuming our march two fawns were started, and the 

 hounds went in full cry after one ; but the second, having 

 scented us, dashed for a fern brake close by and concealed 

 itself there. We beat it up in a short time, however, and it 

 was tumbled over by one of the party with his first barrel. 



The dogs having run their quarry to water, rejoined us, 

 and they were given over to another huntsman, who was 

 requested to go as high up on the wooded hills as he could, 

 and beat downwards, so that the deer might be driven to the 

 river at once, and as soon as he started for his destination the 

 party deployed in various directions, and each took position 

 on a promising runway. 



We had scarcely taken our stands, however, before the rain 

 began to pour down in torrents, and this necessitated our 

 taking shelter under some of the huge firs whose soughing 

 tones and gloomy hues accorded so well with the bluish-black 

 rain and heavy, murky sky. All living objects in nature 

 seemed hushed into silence except the trees, for even the 

 chattering squirrels sought their cosy retreats, and remained 

 there in mute repose. I waited an hour or more in my 

 shelter without hearing any sound save the melancholy 

 sighing of the acerose foliage and the loud patter of the down- 

 pour, and was becoming moody myself out of sympathy with 

 the gloom that reigned all round, when I was fairly startled 

 into an excited condition by hearing a loud snort or whistle 

 a few feet away. On looking for its cause, I noticed a proud 

 black-tail stag gazing intently at me with the greatest curio- 

 sity, and expanding his wide nostrils as if trying to judge by 



