n2 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



in order to give him a chance for his whiskey, I closed 

 with him ; for, as I left the camp in the morning, I had 

 observed a spot where a great many deer had been feed- 

 ing on thorn-berries, and I knew that they would be there 

 ftgain at dusk after the berries. 



Seizing my gun, I made for the thorn nursery, on the 

 leeward side, in order that the deer should not smell me. 

 The dog beginning to wind, I knew that he scented the 

 deer, and therefore I crept along very cautiously, though 

 I could see no game. Presently a very large buck made 

 his appearance, when I said to myself: "That will make 

 the sixth deer, beside two gallons of whiskey, and the 

 reputation of being the best hunter in the woods." 



It will be seen that my vanity began to rise. The buck 

 gradually drew nearer, but the pine-trees stood so close 

 together, that it was a hard matter to secure a good aim, 

 and beside, I found I was becoming so much excited, that 

 my hand was growing unsteady. So I waited till the 

 buck came opposite the space between two trees, when I 

 called to him to stop, which he did, but not until he had 

 so far passed the open space, that his ribs were hid from 

 my view. I tried to take aim ; but as I could not hold 

 my rifle steady, I waited to get rid of the shakes, though 

 to no purpose ; for the longer I delayed the worse I be- 

 came, till at last, observing the buck's tail begin to 

 spread, I knew he was about to make off. As this was 

 the last chance, I put my gun against a tree, thinking 

 thus to brace myself; but my gun absolutely knocked 

 against the tree. As I was then compelled to shoot, or 

 to let the buck run off unharmed, I fired at his whole hips, 

 at a distance of not more than twenty steps, without ever 

 touching either hide or hair of him. 



At any other time, I could have sent twenty shots into 

 a space the size of a dollar ; but the idea of a great 



