220 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



twinkling the thing is changed into a majestic old 

 buck, the genuine powder-flask buck. Proudly erect 

 he stands for a second, a picture of massive grace 

 and strength, and takes a look around; and then down 

 goes the head again to the ground; the beauty is 

 all gone and he looks as angular and ugly as an old 

 cow. But for an instant only. Again comes up the 

 head, the neck is proudly erect as before, and all the 

 outlines are again those of grace. He is feeding on 

 acorns; and now you can try a task always difficult 

 and often impossible to approach a deer directly 

 within his sight, The ground is too level to allow 

 you to get behind knolls, and he is too far from the 

 hills on either side for a good shot, so your best 

 chance is to crawl directly toward him. Half-cock 

 your rifle and push it ahead of you, leave your hat 

 here, and work ahead with your elbows and toes. 

 The instant you see him raise his head, stop and lie 

 perfectly still until he puts it down again for another 

 acorn. Don't be impatient, and never mind if he 

 does seem to be working away from you. Should he 

 go behind a tree, with head away from you, you may 

 get on your hands and knees and crawl faster; but 

 the instant he raises his head stop at once and remain 

 fixed in whatever position you happen to be. Don't 

 move at all as long as he can see you. And don't try 

 to rise up to shoot. 



Fifteen minutes' work brings you within a hun- 

 dred and fifty yards of him, when all at once he 

 throws his head suddenly up and looks directly at 

 you. Be not at all alarmed; for a deer often looks as 

 if he saw something when he really suspects nothing. 



But now he looks longer than usual, while you are in 

 a very uncomfortable position, with a very active fire 



