THE VIRGINIAN DEER 67 



strange rattling notes. After a while I could 

 not resist the temptation to leave my post and 

 approach him. I had walked only ten yards, 

 when I was aroused by a deep baying, and before 

 I could regain my tree there came a whirr and 

 report as a bullet went whizzing through the 

 air. Some sportsmen who have had no big-game 

 experience completely lose their heads when con- 

 fronted by a wild stag. They are unable to 

 shoot or move. This is called the ' deer scare/ 

 I had formerly experienced this feeling ten years 

 before, and had no longer a tendency to it. 

 My plan was to remain concealed, and then rush 

 forward and discharge both barrels into the breast 

 or neck. I had not long to wait a brief notice 

 of snapping twigs, and then a huge stag appeared 

 with his head almost touching the ground, and 

 his handsome antlers directed toward me. In 

 a second I fired, and the stag took a bound 

 into the air, but before I could reach him he 

 sprang to his feet and bounded off towards 

 the north. I shot again, but as I did so either 

 his wound or the slippery condition of the log 

 caused him to stumble upon his knees. I aimed 

 between the shoulders, and his tail taking the 

 line of sight was cut off as cleanly as though it 



