118 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



spirits, and, but that we struck a more open range of coun- 

 try, where the traveling was better, doubtless we would 

 have given up. However, being in the vicinity of our 

 ponies, we determined to continue the pursuit on horse- 

 back, hoping to get a view, in crossing some opening, where 

 we could give the buck a run of a few minutes, with the 

 expectation that a sharper gait might break him down; 

 but luck continued adverse. Time was rapidly gliding by, 

 a few hours more would bring on night, and, as far as we 

 could see, the prospect of a termination was as distant as 

 ever. Want of success or fatigue made us careless, and as 

 we slowly wended our unthankful way first one in front, 

 then the other, talking aloud, deploring our misfortune, and 

 paying but little attention to the surroundings, unsports- 

 man-like on such an occasion my pony (for I was in front) 

 suddenly shied, turning almost completely round, and at 

 the same time brought me excessively near getting a spill. 

 And what do you imagine was the cause of this want of 

 propriety in so experienced a steed ? Simply this : the deer 

 had lain down, and we had almost ridden over him. To 

 wheel round and try to bring my gun to bear was the work 

 of a few seconds, but all my exertions and rapidity of mo- 

 tion were thrown away. The pony would not stand still ; 

 he had evidently been frightened, or perhaps was still in 

 ignorance of what caused the alarm. Moreover, my ma- 

 noeuvring so directly intervened between my friend and 

 the game that, for fear of peppering me, he dared not fire. 

 To turn round and look at one another, first sulkily, but 

 afterward to burst into a roar of laughter at the absurdity 

 of the whole thing, was the result, each agreeing that the 

 buck had well earned his safety, and that two such awk- 

 ward devils had no right to a feast of venison resulting from 

 that hunt, and therefore we had better acknowledge that we 

 were beaten handsomely, and that by a buck on three legs. 



