THE VIRGINIAN DEER 57 



The young fawns when only a few days old are 

 often found in so sound a sleep that on several 

 occasions they have been taken up in the arms 

 before they became conscious that they were 

 captives. On one occasion I discovered a young 

 fawn sleeping under some bushy boughs. Alight- 

 ing from my horse, I lifted the pretty creature in 

 my arms and quickly mounted. Scarcely had 

 I done so before I heard the sound of some heavy 

 animal following in my tracks. It was a large 

 doe, and as she approached nearer I observed her 

 movements were fearless and extraordinary. Pro- 

 ceeding at a rapid pace, she lifted high her front 

 legs, performing a curious striking action in the 

 air. Soon I discovered her object she was the 

 mother in pursuit of her young. Wishing to 

 test her fidelity, I urged my Indian pony to a 

 gallop, but I had not covered more than half 

 a mile when I became aware that the pursuer was 

 close at hand and meant mischief. The idea of 

 danger from a deer appeared absurd, so I seized 

 my revolver and drew in rein. Pointing at the 

 deer's breast I fired. The bullet missed, and I 

 escaped by a miracle receiving a blow that would 

 have maimed me for life. The sharp hoof struck 

 my saddle and cut it as cleanly as a knife. This 



