16 The Hunting Grounds 



made for a steep ravine, at the bottom of which 

 wound a mountain torrent, sometimes creeping 

 silently among mossy stones, and at others dashing 

 down over huge boulders of greenish granite, with 

 a roar like distant thunder. 



" The deer evidently know this ground well, 

 Hal," exclaimed Walter, breaking silence after an 

 hour's heavy pull up and down hill, " for see, they 

 have gone up stream to find a more convenient 

 ford, as the current here is so strong that the 

 fawns not being able to keep their legs, would 

 have been swept away in crossing, so if you are not 

 out of breath, we will after them at once, as the 

 quicker we get over the ground the less will we 

 have to cover, provided we go about it quietly and 

 cautiously." 



On we went, sometimes on our hands and knees, 

 creeping through dense underwood, and at others 

 climbing rocks or wading watercourses, until we 

 came to a place where the stream was shallow, and 

 here it was evident that the deer had crossed very 

 lately, as water was still flowing into the deep 

 imprints made by their feet in the soft sands near 

 the banks. 



" Take care not to make any splash as you go 

 over, and tread carefully, Hal," whispered Walter; 

 " the trail is warm, and the herd cannot be far off, 

 for the slots indicate they have been going slowly, 



