144 HILLS AND LAKES. 



goin', ail enormous buck broke, with the speed of a 

 race-horse from the thicket of underbrush that had 

 concealed him, directly towards where I was standin'. 

 I was ready, and as he came withiri a few rods of me, 

 I fired. He leaped high into the air, -and fell to the 

 ground. My huntin' knife was soon passed across his 

 throat, and his struggles were over. It was a noble 

 buck. I have been a hunter ever since, and I have 

 seen few larger than the one I shot that morning. 



" In the meantime, the dogs swept by me in full 

 cry towards where the Yorkers were stationed. It 



% 



seemed that two deer had been started by the hounds? 

 and had ran together, until they struck the ridge on 

 which I stood, when one had turned suddenly from 

 his course, and the other fled forward. I heard two 

 shots in quick succession. In a few minutes the 

 music of the dogs ceased, and I knew the chase was 

 over. I passed down to the Yorkers, and found them 

 rejoicin' over a fine doe they had slain. Both had 

 fired upon her the one woundin', and the other killin* 

 her. They supposed she had passed me, and took 

 it for granted I had missed her. Old Pete came in. 

 He had heard my first shot, and supposed of course, I 

 had been firm' at some triflin' game. The old man 



