THE LYXX 439 



breathing almost suspended, we advanced upon the thicket 

 where we expected our game to lay. 



The thicket was finally gained, an opening ahead dis- 

 closed — a crawl on hands and knees bringing us to a huge 

 tree-trunk. Then another is gained; a close survey ahead, 

 and from behind the tree, with rifles carefully held at a 

 "ready," a scene met our eyes that we shall never forget. 



There lay our big buck fast breathing his last, the blood 

 spurting from a ghastly wound in his neck, while black, 

 clotted blood trickled down from each slender nostril to the 

 velvet forest carpet upon which he lay stretched. At his 

 side, with sharp, white fangs buried deep in his flesh, was a 

 big Gray Lynx. One huge paw rested upon the dying Deer' s 

 side, the cruel, white claws tearing through hair, flesh, and 

 sinew. So busily engaged was the Lynx on the Deer, that 

 he stopped to notice nothing else, his only object appearing 

 to be to get on the outside of the largest possible amount of 

 venison in the shortest possible time. 



From the side he sprung again to the throat. At this 

 instant two rifles cracked. The smoke, hanging heavily 

 upon the still atmosphere of the forest, for a brief interval 

 obscured our view. We rushed forward, with rifles ready, 

 and trained upon the spot where lay the Lynx. But no 

 muscle quivers; the breath has left his bodj^; he is dead, cut 

 down so suddenly his last breath went out with teeth deeply 

 set in the Deer' s neck. 



The Lynx is seldom li anted systematically, as are the 

 Deer, Elk, Bear, and other game animals, unless it be by 

 professional hunters or trappers, who value him for his 

 pelt. With them, the usual method is to hunt him with 

 dogs trained to follow the trail by scent. In other cases, 

 his track is followed tlirough the snow, by the eye, by a 

 party of hunters, who, when starting out, must be prepared 

 to make a long, liard tram}) of many hours, or possibly sev- 

 eral days. I have known a party, wlio wanted a Lynx 

 ])adly, to follow the trail of one all dny, returning home as 

 darkness set in. They returned to the hunt next morning, 



