A HUNTER'S LIFE. 129 



« deer feeding, thou another and another, till I counted 

 four. 



One, a very large buck, was lying down, and all tho 

 rest walked off, leaving him fast asleep. After his com- 

 panions were out of reach, I crept from my resting-place 

 to take a shot at him ; and having marked the place he 

 lay in, I lost sight of him, but still approached nearer and 

 uearer, till I was within eight or ten steps. While I was 

 out of sight of him, I thought he had got up and followed 

 his company, and so continued to think until I had walked 

 within eight steps, when there he lay, fast asleep, with hia 

 head flat on the ground. I took deliberate aim at hia 

 head, and when the gun went off he did not kick, as he 

 was killed instantly. I then skinned him, and took his 

 saddle to the camp ; where, having lost my dogs, and 

 Hugh being gone, I felt lonesome, and determined to go 

 and see Mary and my two little daughters. 



I took my dinner, though late in the evening ; and, it 

 being ten miles to my home, I tied up about fifty or sixty 

 pounds of skins, and started, travelling as fast as I could, 

 determined to be at home as soon as my strength could take 

 me there. 



I traveled on, resting occasionally, until I was about 

 half-way home. I was lying on the ground, with my 

 shoulders and back resting on my load, when I heard one 

 of my dogs barking at a great distance. I left my load 

 and ran at my best speed, not feeling the least tired. I 

 suppose I ran a mile, when I halted to listen, and heard 

 him still barking. I started again, and ran, as near as 1 

 could guess, for the place where he was barking, and then 

 stood still, for fear I should scare the bear. 



Being anxious, as the sun was then down, and I in 

 strange woods, far from home, I gave a shout to the dogs. 

 They were both lying under the tree, resting themselves ; 

 but they immediately sprang up, as I was near enough to 



