ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



wind in order to scent enemies. When the doe 

 I was observing had finished drinking she turned 

 her head in my direction. Just a moment be- 

 fore I had stood up with my head at an open- 

 ing in the branches of the willow tree. Thus 

 she looked straight at me with her large, mild, 

 black eyes bordered with long, heavy eye-lashes. 

 What thrilling moments of pleasure and excite- 

 ment! Face to face with and looking directly 

 into the eyes of one of the fleetest and most 

 graceful wild animals of the prairie ! The wind 

 was coming in my direction and I stood like a 

 statue without moving a muscle, hardly daring 

 to breathe and with a free wild feeling that I 

 have never experienced before or since. There 

 we stood looking at each other in mute silence. 

 I drinking inspiration derived from her grand, 

 wild life, and she trying to discover whether 

 I was a part of the tree, as she could see but 

 little of me through the numerous shoots and 

 branches thickly covered with leaves. Pres- 

 ently she lowered her head and began browsing 

 grass near by but still facing me and keeping 

 the fawns behind her. I continued to stand 

 perfectly still until they gradually left me, 

 [44] 



