188 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



You have already learned the folly of going after a 

 deer when once started. This rule generally, though 

 not always, holds good with these deer. But that 

 place where those two disappeared on a trot looks 

 like a pocket or basin containing thick brush. Those 

 two that went in there acted as if they would skulk if 

 they had a good opportunity. Just for curiosity fol- 

 low them in there; and do so as fast as you can go. 



Arriving there you find it a sort of deep pocket 

 with steep brushy sides about seventy-five yards across, 

 well filled in the bottom with brush five or six feet 

 high such as we saw on the level ground above, but 

 much denser. 



You see no motion or anything that looks like a 

 deer, and hear no sound. You snort like a deer, bleat 

 like a deer, whistle, clap your hands, and finally yell. 

 But nothing moves. A liberal shower of stones into 

 different parts of the bush is equally futile. But from 

 the way these two ran off and the fact that you got 

 here so quickly without seeing them go out it is pro- 

 bable that they are standing hidden within fifty yards 

 of you, or else are sneaking out through the heaviest 

 brush that runs through the centre. Take that old 

 trail that winds up one side of the basin and go up 

 until you can see down into the brush. 



You follow the trail all the way to the top of the 

 basin, and then walk all the way around it on the edge 

 of the high ground. And still you see and hear 

 nothing. But be not too hasty to decide that there is 

 nothing there. If they went out so quickly that you 

 could not see them after running here so fast, then it 

 is certain that they went out on a fast gait, either a 

 run or a trot. In either case the tracks will show 

 plainly anywhere along the edge of the level ground. 



