180 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



that they have spent several days here. But that very 

 fact shows that it is just as likely they are not here 

 to-day, for deer seldom spend over two or three days 

 in exactly the same place. If they have been here 

 that long they are more apt to be in some other part 

 of the valley, half a mile or a mile away, or perhaps 

 in some adjoining valley. 



A few minutes' walk brings us to a branch of the 

 main valley which winds out of sight among the hills, 

 and like the main valley is well filled with bright green 

 brush. And here in the main trail we find two tracks 

 of this morning. 



They are either does or young bucks, by the track. 

 As we did not see their tracks above here, it is very 

 likely they turned off into this branch. Examination 

 of the ground shows that they have gone into the side 

 valley, and no tracks are visible coming out. 



Now, although it involves more work, we had better 

 swing around to the head of the side valley and come 

 down it; for the wind, you see, blows up it, and the 

 most certain way is to go around. 



We soon climb the hill, and taking the table-land 

 follow the course of the little valley, keeping out of 

 sight, however, of the bottom of it; for there is no 

 prospect of the game being on foot now, and it has 

 twenty times the chance of seeing us that we have of 

 seeing it, and if it does see us we should probably not 

 get a fair shot. But here and there the highland that 

 forms the edge breaks into a little short gulch or 

 pocket, filled more or less with brush, and into these 

 we cautiously peep as we wind around their heads. 

 Here's one now that is more brushy than usual, and 

 a deer might lie in it without seeing you. Generally 

 it is not necessary to do more than merely show 



