IN THE FAR WEST. 303 



alleviate its full significance. The first was, that one of the 

 most courageous and experienced of the party wounded a stag 

 so severely that he was overtaken by the hounds in a short time 

 and forced to fight bravely for life for fifteen minutes or more. 

 While engaged in a contest with his canine foes, the hunter 

 approached to give him a finishing shot, but he broke away 

 from the dogs so suddenly, and charged his human adver- 

 sary so vigorously, that the latter was taken by surprise, and 

 before he knew what to do he was knocked down and seriously 

 injured in the chest and abdomen by the antlers of the 

 infuriated beast. Fortunately for him, succour arrived promptly, 

 and he and his assailant were taken to camp together. This 

 is no uncommon thing for stags to do ; hence persons should 

 be cautious in approaching them when they are wounded. 

 The hunter was sent home to receive medical assistance, and 

 was soon himself again. 



An incident which occurred to myself the same day is one 

 I shall not readily forget, as it taught me a useful lesson. 

 Having heard what I supposed to be hounds belonging to 

 some other hunters a short distance away from my post, I 

 started towards them in hopes I should get a shot at the 

 quarry, but after travelling two miles or more through the 

 dense forest, I could see nothing of them, though their 

 voices were audible among the hills. As the evening was 

 getting late, I decided to go no further, so I returned 

 towards where I supposed the camp stood. I wandered 

 about until dusk in various directions, but I could find no 

 traces of it, nor could I see any footsteps of men or dogs, a 

 proof positive that they had not been in that direction. Feel- 

 ing that I was lost, I commenced an examination of the 

 branches of the trees to see on which side they were longest, 

 and where the moss grew, but as I had not taken any notice 

 of the situation of the camp, my knowledge of woodcraft was 

 of little use. I then climbed a tree to note the appearance of 

 smoke anywhere, but the lateness of the evening prevented me 

 from seeing it. Not knowing what else to do, I commenced 

 blowing the cow's horn which I carried slung over my shoulder, 

 and kept it up until my lips were sore. I was moving all the 



