A hunter's life. 315 



Oak splits are then woven through these ribs from back 

 to front, like the bottom of a chair. When used, the foot 

 is placed on the two strong ribs, the ball of the foot on 

 the front, and the heel on the rear cross-piece, where it is 

 tied so firmly with straps, that it cannot move one way or 

 the other. 



Thus equipped, I set off to the woods, to catch deer to 

 put in my park. As I could not catch them myself, but 

 was obliged to depend on a small dog, which I knew would 

 tear and injure them, I took straps of leather and made a 

 muzzle, leaving room enough for him to breathe, but not 

 to open his mouth wide enough to bite the deer. So at 

 it I went, and took several, but not one large buck among 

 the number. I had seen the tracks of a very large buck, 

 but he escaped for two or three days. At last, one morn- 

 ing I set out with the intention of catching him ; and 

 getting to the windward of his lair, I followed him up 

 until I found in which direction he had run. I slipped 

 the little dog, and kept on the trail until I heard him 

 at bay, when I struck out at my best speed, which, with 

 the wooden shoes, was about equal to an ordinary walking 

 pace along a road ; but when I came up, there stood the 

 buck, bidding defiance to every trespasser on his rights 

 and liberties. 



I walked close up, bade him good morning, and told 

 him that I had a summons for him to make his appear- 

 ance forthwith at Browning's deer park. But the haughty 

 animal raised his head high up, threw up his tail, his hair 

 all standing out, and came boldly up to the attack. As 

 he came he reared on his hind feet, and made a pass at 

 my head ; but as I saw what he intended, I stepped to 

 one side, and seized him round the neck, when into it we 

 went, round and round so fast, that it looked as if we were 

 dancing Fisher's hornpipe. We danced and pranced till 

 [ threw him down in the snow ; when, as he commenced 



