364 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



I was near getting the worst of it by being too for- 

 ward with my knife. We found bees the same 

 evening. 



The sun had just set, when gaining the crest of a hill, 

 I caught sight of a young deer quietly feeding. I 

 raised the rifle, and was in the act of pressing the 

 trigger, when I saw the antlers of a very large buck, 

 who was walking slowly past the other, unsuspicious of 

 harm. I had often heard old hunters talk of the buck 

 fever, but could never form a just idea of the meaning 

 of it; at this moment, however, I felt its full effects. 

 My anxiety to shoot the buck was so great, that I 

 trembled in every limb, and could not steady the rifle. 

 At length the deer discovered me, and raised his noble 

 head. I knew that the decisive moment was come, 

 and, although the sight of the rifle quivered over his 

 whole form, I pulled the trigger. He gave a bound and 

 disappeared : I found som.e blood where he had been 

 standing, but the color was not very satisfactory, and 

 I followed the trail in vain ; he had escaped with a 

 slight wound. 



I returned to the camp out of humor ; — and with 

 reason, — I had lost three pair of good moccasins by 

 my bad shot, and was almost barefoot. Hogarth and 

 Slowtrap had killed a few deer, and saved the brains 

 for me, and I thought I had now enough for my skins. 

 Next day we went after bees, and found two trees, 

 one of which we cut dowTi — on which occasion I got 

 dreadfully stung. 



I now thought it time to return to my work, and 

 was tired of going about in shirt sleeves. I took the 



