THE FIRST SHOT AT A DEER. 101 



the truth, you had better lose no time in inspecting it. 

 For it is walking, and the deer, if this should be one, 

 is a fast walker. 



At a glance you see the folly of shooting at a walk- 

 ing mark of such a small size at such a distance. 

 Moreover, there are many twigs and small branches 

 in the way that can easily deflect a ball. You see, 

 too, the impossibility of crossing in time the flat be- 

 tween you and the ridge the deer is on; and very 

 properly doubt the policy of so doing even if you 

 could cross it. But you also notice that it is walking 

 with the wind and along the top of the ridge it is on. 

 You see, too, that some two hundred yards in the 

 same direction the deer is taking, the ridge you are 

 on connects with the one the deer is on. 



Quickly and quietly you back off of the ridge you 

 are on, run down along it to where it joins the other, 

 and then going carefully to the top you raise your 

 .head with great caution and look down along the 

 other ridge. But you see nothing. 



And now beware. You are coming now to the 

 trying point. You have done very well so far, but 

 are now at the point where a little haste often dashes 

 to the ground the cup of success just as it has reached 

 the lip. You want to go ahead. You feel a burning 

 anxiety to see that animal. Your foot is already 

 raised to go ahead. 



But stop and consider a moment. Suppose that 

 just at the moment you move ahead the deer should 

 happen to be standing still. Have you forgotten how 

 hard it will then be for you to see him, and how easy 

 it will be for him to see you ? Recollect that it is 

 only daylight; that the deer is undoubtedly feeding, 

 and is in no haste to move away; and that you have 



