A hunter's life 3n 



feet. Finding that he was still inclined to fight, 1 told 

 him that he was a brave fellow, but a big fool, for he 

 might have known that I did not mean to take his life; 

 but as he was so selfish, he might go and do as he pleased ; 

 whereupon he walked off slowly into a thick laurel, and 

 I saw him no more. 



I puffed and blowed awhile, until I had rested ; when 

 1 took hold of the hanging leg of my pants, and, pulling 

 it off, found it full of snow. I shook the snow out, and, 

 though wet and frozen, I pulled it on again, and went in 

 search of thorns. I was so lucky as to find some in a 

 short time, and with them pinned the torn garment toge- 

 ther, and thus got clear of holding it up with one hand. 



Disappointed and angry at my defeat, I started with 

 my little dog (which had seen all that was done, and, by- 

 the-by, was very little better treated by the buck than his 

 master) to look for more deer. In a short time, finding 

 where a large drove had been running, I started the dog 

 in pursuit ; and as there was a well-beaten road, I threw 

 off my snow-shoes, and ran after them ; but presently 

 meeting the dog coming back, I found the deer had all 

 gone into the creek, and proceeded down the stream, I 

 turned up the creek, and soon saw a young buck hid in a 

 deep hole. I took care to keep below him, so that he 

 could not get into the water below me, as then he could 

 have run down the creek, when it would have been impos- 

 sible for us to catch him. I went to the edge of the 

 water, and as the buck was on the other side, I sent the 

 dog over to rout him. As soon as the dog approached, 

 the buck went and stood in the middle of the deep water ; 

 and I could neither get at him, nor would the dog go in 

 to him. I then cut a long pole, tied my rope to it, and, 

 making a noose, tried to slip it over his head ; but he 

 would not let the rope come near him. I continued try- 

 ing to put it on him, until, while standing on the ice, 

 2:* 



