IN THE I'AR U'KST. 321 



tliis purpose in view, four of the party made a detour 

 of a mile around the vale, and then dashed in among 

 the startled groups from different directions. The sud- 

 denness of the attack caused a dozen adults and twice 

 as many fawns to bound into the valley not a hundred 

 yards from where two of us were trying to conceal our- 

 selves. As soon as they struck the lower ground the dogs 

 were unleashed, and away they went in pursuit at their best 

 speed. As soon as the frightened animals became aware of 

 the presence of their enemies they seemed to fairly fly over 

 the ground ; but the sturdy hounds, extending their noses 

 and bending their bodies until the abdomens apparently 

 touched the ground, gradually closed upon them. One burly 

 stag, desiring to test his powers alone, broke to the right from 

 the herd, and he was selected by the hounds. Running 

 together, both dogs kept as close as if they were yoked, but 

 when they reached to within twenty yards of the quarry they 

 deployed and ranged themselves one on each side of it. Find- 

 ing itself out-run, it attempted a double, but. being checked, 

 resumed its former course, then tried a sharp turn to the 

 right; the experienced hound on that side was too swift for it, 

 however, and with a bound he leaped at its throat, and fasten- 

 ing his fangs deep in the flesh, brought it to the ground. 

 The second dog, having quite a detour to make, was just 

 in time to help to stifle the pitiful death-cries of the poor 

 creature. While this run was taking place, the third and 

 youngest dog was pursuing a fawn, which he captured in a 

 few minutes after some pretty turnings and good bursts of 

 speed. When the hunters saw the stag overthrown they 

 "ave an enthusiastic cheer, as the chase displayed to good 

 advantage the swiftness and tactics of both the pursuers and 

 the pursued ; so, heedless alike of prairie dog villages and the 

 opportunities presented for shooting some terrified fawns that 

 ran wildly about in every direction, they dashed over the vale, 

 and were in soon after the death of the quarry. The efficacy of 

 the cross- blood in the dogs was proved by the fact that they 

 killed the animal themselves, while their training was mani- 

 fested by the mode in which they hunted ; for none but 

 experienced dogs would run in couples and select one quarrv 



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