WOUNDING THE BIO BUCK. 121 



aquatic weeds and bushes. In about five minutes after 

 gaining my position, I was greeted by a sight of the beau- 

 ty, who hopped the fence where there was a broken rail, 

 and, gaining the opening, for a moment halted, then toss- 

 ing up his head, offered me a fair cross-shot nearly eighty 

 yards distant. Pitching my gun well in front, I pulled the 

 trigger, and well I knew not fruitlessly, for he gave a 

 short protracted jump, dropped his white tail close into his 

 hams, and with an increased pace disappeared in the swamp. 

 Unless the wound was mortal, or so severe as to serious- 

 ly incommode him, I was certain he would not be satisfied 

 to remain in such close propinquity to danger, so, after 

 reloading, I made a detour to find where he had left this 

 cover to seek one more retired. My conjecture was cor- 

 rect, for, after traveling nearly half a mile, I found the fa- 

 miliar tell-tale track. The snow was in pretty good order, 

 both for tracking and walking, and I did not let the grass 

 grow under my feet. As yet I had seen no signs of blood, 

 which the more thoroughly impressed me that my lead had 

 made more than a skin-wound. In about an hour's walk- 

 ing, I found myself on the edge of another slough, which I 

 was hesitating whether to enter or go round, when I espied 

 my friend, some way beyond range, going over a neighbor- 

 ing swell of the prairie. Of course I cut off the angle and 

 cast forward to where the view was obtained, and as I rose 

 the swell, in the distance I saw my friend at a stand-still, 

 evidently anxiously scrutinizing my direction. My cap was 

 of a very light color, so I concluded he did not see me, and 

 my supposition was again correct, for after a few minutes 

 he relaxed his pace, and turning at right angles, walked into 

 a small expanse of dense rushes, interspersed with an occa- 

 sional stunted willow. In deer-shooting, if you suppose an 

 animal severely wounded, never hurry him ; if he once lie 

 down, and you give him time to stiffen, you will not have 



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