110 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



While we are performing the necessary operation of 

 loading, a description of our armament will not be inappro- 

 priate. Will (as I will call him) had an antiquated, un- 

 couth rifle, with the old-fashioned double trigger, the sec- 

 ond to set the hair-spring an invention I had seldom pre- 

 viously seen and never used, which, although possessed of 

 no finish, could shoot " plumb centre ;" while I myself had 

 my trusty double-barrel ten-bore, which, from long experi- 

 ence and association, I was aware had only to be held 

 straight to do correct work. 



A large swamp about half a mile off was a favorite resort 

 for deer, and to it we directed our steps : but before we 

 had gone half the distance we came across numerous tracks, 

 so fresh that we kept a sharp lookout in all directions, hop- 

 ing every moment to be gratified with the sight of some 

 antlered monarch. Failing in this, we changed our tactics, 

 friend Will posting me on the margin of a branch of the 

 swamp, with my back against the butt of a tree, with in- 

 structions to remain still and keep a sharp lo&kout, while 

 he would take a detour, and possibly drive some stragglers 

 across the run which my position commanded. Slowly, 

 after Will started, the time passed ; the forest appeared 

 perfectly deserted ; not a squirrel or bird showed itself to 

 break the monotony, except an angry, squabbling family of 

 woodpeckers, who appeared to have some serious disagree- 

 ment in reference to the possession of a hole in the trunk 

 of a dead giant tree. Wet feet are never conducive to 

 comfort, and much less so when you are prevented from 

 taking exercise; besides, it was bitterly cold. First I 

 stood on one leg, then on the other, after the manner of 

 geese, which birds I began to consider I much resembled, 

 till at last the inaction became so unendurable that I was 

 very nearly taking up my gun and starting in pursuit of 

 my supposed recreant friend. 



