178 WILD SPORTS IX THE FAR "WEST. 



Towards evening I saw a young buck, walking 

 quietly and circumspectly through the wood ; I dis- 

 mounted, and left the horse to graze at leisure, while 

 I crept nearer. He stopped when he saw the horse 

 pawing the ground, raised his handsome head, and 

 snuffed the air ; my ball whistled through his ribs, and 

 he fell lifeless to the ground. Weak as I was, it was 

 some time before I could lift the not very large animal 

 on to the horse, when I rode slowly homewards. Just 

 before dark, I shot a turkey with the other barrel, and 

 did not load again, not expecting to get another shot 

 so late in the evening. The full moon set its soft 

 silvery light among the dark shadows of the trees, 

 to point out my path. I might -have ridden for about 

 an hour and a half through the thick forest on my 

 heavily laden horse, and had gained a cattle track, 

 which led to the house ; the stillness of the night was 

 broken by the cow-bells, the baying of the dogs and 

 the neigh of my horse, in expectation of a good supper, 

 when there was a sudden rustling among the bushes on 

 my right. I pulled up, and a herd of swine rushed in 

 wild haste across the path, just in front of me. I was 

 about to ride on, when I heard further rustling amongst 

 the dry leaves, and then one of the largest bears of the 

 swamps stood in the path, not above six paces from 

 my horse's nose. He did not seem to know what to 

 make of the figure looming through the glade of the 

 forest by the light of the moon, and began to snuff the 

 air. My rifle was not loaded, and the thought flashed 

 upon me, that I should have to fight it out with the 

 knife ; but I resolved first to try and send him a bit of 

 lead. I placed the butt of my gun on my left toe, and 



