112 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



have not paid the same amount of attention to discovering 

 the proper internal construction of barrels, so as to obtain 

 the greatest range and closeness in throwing this descrip- 

 tion of projectile. Generally, at the distance of one hun- 

 dred yards, the side of a barn would be none too large a 

 target to be certain of hitting; and again, occasionally a 

 barrel will make an unusually good pattern at one dis- 

 charge, while at the next it will be quite the reverse; so 

 that hitting a deer at a hundred yards I consider more the 

 result of luck than good guiding, if charged with buck-shot. 



After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, I was join- 

 ed by my friend, who at once inquired what I had shot at ; 

 but when I told him the distance, he only laughed one of 

 those peculiar, little dry laughs which, as plainly as words, 

 said, " You're a fool if you expect to eat any of that car- 

 cass." Nevertheless, we together inspected the track, and 

 I had not even the gratification to find blood. Well, Will 

 was for giving it up, but I wished to follow it out; so after 

 using all his powers of persuasion and argument in favor 

 of his views, he succumbed, and consented for once to be 

 dictated to. 



For over a mile we followed our game. The line was 

 straight, and the track distinct; moreover, the gait was 

 steady, if one could judge from the regularity of the im- 

 pressions ; and there was naught to indicate that we might 

 not with as great propriety follow any animal in these bot- 

 tom-lands at which a shot had never been fired. Will was 

 going ahead, leading, and your humble servant bringing up 

 the rear, when the former suddenly halted and turned round. 

 From the expression of his face I knew something was up, 

 but was scarcely prepared for the- information he gave. 

 "Look here," said he; "you have hit that deer, Cap, toler- 

 ably badly, and I suspect we shall get him yet ; his fore-leg 

 is disabled, and he can'.t travel far without our overhauling 



