278 



THE BEST OF THE FUN 



me amusing, interesting, and aggravating all at once — 

 occurred as we left the timber and rose the final divide, 

 beyond the summit of which was our camp. A wood of 

 heavy pine-trees lay just below and on our left hand as we 

 rode leisurely along the ridge. It seemed the very ground 

 for big buck frequenting the upper heights, and by this 



A splendid buck dashed past my pony's nose 



time of day they might well be moving out to graze. 

 Carefully we peered ahead, the wind blowing directly 

 from our right. We were just giving it up, and leaving 

 the little stony ridge at a trot, when there was a clatter as 

 of a squadron of cavalry coming up from behind. With 

 a snort and a rattle a splendid buck dashed close past my 

 pony's nose, his great branching antlers gleaming in the 



