FOLLOWING THE TRAIL. 113 



him." On inquiring how he gained his information, he 

 pointed to the tracks; and, sure enough, the off fore-foot, 

 instead of making a clean impression, cut the snow for 

 nearly a foot whenever raised off the ground. " You see," 

 said he, chuckling, " he don't use both alike, for it's all he 

 can do to get this one up." There was no gainsaying such 

 conclusive evidence; and with renewed ardor we sharpened 

 the pace of pursuit, alternately changing places, one being 

 constantly on the lookout while the other tracked. Onoe 

 or twice we got sight of the deer, but too far off, or for 

 too limited a period, to shoot ; but the view was always 

 cheering. Forward we pressed, exultingly hoping that each 

 minute would finish the hunt ; but the deer thought other- 

 wise, for he was of a most unaccommodating disposition. 

 Soon it became apparent that the confounded brute was 

 traveling the same circle, and that, unless we altered cm- 

 plans, we might be kept going till dark ; and as we were 

 not disposed to work harder than necessary, it was agreed 

 that I should drop behind and take up my stand in the 

 inost eligible place, while Will continued the pursuit Avith 

 the hope of driving our wily foe past my ambush. Though 

 the plan was well devised, it failed in execution ; for, after 

 an hour's tedious delay, my companion rejoined me, dis- 

 gusted and dispirited, heaping anathemas upon the foe, 

 pronouncing him to be one of the very foxiest brutes he 

 had ever come across. After all our trouble, it would nev- 

 er do thus to be defeated ; so I proposed doing the track- 

 ing while he took a stand, at the same time changing guns 

 at his request. 



Full of hope, and animated with the desire of distin- 

 guishing myself, I pushed forward with renewed energy. 

 At first the trail was tolerably clear, but after some time 

 it led and twisted in every direction through innumerable 

 hog-paths. Never was I so sorely puzzled to keep correct ; 



