302 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



Stretch the panther's skin, and we set off, each as before 

 taking a separate path. Before I had gone hah' a mile 

 I saw two deer grazing; just at this moment Conwell's 

 gun was heard at some distance, and they both raised 

 their heads and Hstened attentively, but perceiving 

 nothing suspicious, they began to feed again. They 

 were a doe and a year-old fawn, and when they were 

 in a hne I fired ; the doe, which was nearest, fell at 

 once, and the fawn after running about fifty yards. 

 They were very fat, and I hung them up. 



In hanging up deer it is necessary to take precau- 

 tions against the vultures, which are a great annoyance 

 to sportsmen. The best way of securing the deer, 

 whose skin they would ruin with their beaks, is to 

 hang them up by their heads, so that the vultures may 

 have no point of support, and must content themselves 

 with pecking at the skull. There is also a large crow, 

 which tries to steal the fat ; but they may be kept off 

 by placing two peeled sticks crosswise on the deer — for 

 the crows will not venture their heads between two 

 such suspicious-looking objects. 



Continuing my march, I came to the bank of a 

 stream running into the Richland, when I saw a wolf 

 spring out of a thicket on the opposite side, about 

 eighty paces off; he ran about fifty yards and then 

 stopped, but not long enough for me to take aim; 

 finally he disappeared among some rocks. I crossed 

 over to the thicket to see how Bearsgrease would take 

 the scent of a wolf; all his hairs bristled up the moment 

 he came to the yet warm lair. 



Late in the afternoon, on my way to the camp, I 

 struck a fresh bear's trail, and followed it up, though 



