96 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



ist. That the deer was standing in brush of almost 

 the height of its head. 



2d. That a deer in brush can see out of it far better 

 than you can see into it. 



In such a position a deer has every advantage of 

 you. Your only chance to see him is to get upon 

 high ground where you can see down into the brush; 

 or wait until he moves; or else approach the brush in 

 such a way that you can get a good running shot in 

 case he starts. Now there is a knoll on the side to- 

 ward the creek, and it is only sixty yards from where 

 the deer was. If you had made a circuit and got 

 upon it, you would have seen the fawn's neck and 

 head when he raised them. You would also have 

 seen him if he moved. You might have waited there 

 an hour or more with safety, for at this time of day a 

 deer not disturbed will not move far. He might 

 have come out of the brush and browsed around the 

 edges a while, or even have come toward you. At all 

 events, you would have known just what he was 

 doing; and if he had lain down, by approaching from 

 this side you might have had a fair running shot; for 

 the ground on the other side, you see, is rising and 

 open, whereas this is falling and so brushy that you 

 did not even see him when he ran. 



On your way homeward in the afternoon you sud- 

 denly discover two slim gray sticks just under the 

 trunk of a large fallen tree. A few days ago you 

 would hardly have noticed them, but now you at once 

 see a curious colt>r, shape, and slant about them not 

 shared by common sticks. 



But stop. Do not try to get any closer; that will 

 never do. You are almost too close now. Higher 

 up and farther around, so as to see the other side of 



