252 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



through the scrub near the bank of the river, they had 

 in all probability been made by a white-tailed deer. 

 We had followed them for a couple of miles through 

 several patches of thick scrub and underwood growing 

 amongst groves of tall cottonwood trees, when they 

 crossed the river, which was here some fifty yards 

 wide and from two to three feet deep. Although the 

 temperature must have been down to somewhere about 

 zero, the stream was so swift that there was no ice 

 over it, except just where the water touched the land. 

 It was rather cold work crossing it, for not wanting 

 to get our foot-gear and nether garments first wet 

 and then frozen, we stripped below the waist, and 

 went through with bare legs and feet, and had to go 

 very slowly, as the bottom was covered with slippery 

 pebbles, and the stream was very strong. 



Arrived at the other side, we soon had our warm 

 German socks and rubber overshoes on again, and by 

 quick walking presently restored the circulation to our 

 numbed feet. We had scarcely done so, however, 

 when the inconsiderate animal we were following 

 recrossed the river and gave us all our trouble and 

 discomfort over again. After this it led us several 

 miles farther through the thickly timbered bottoms 

 bordering the course of the river. Its tracks, how- 

 ever, had been here made after the snow had ceased 

 falling, and were very easy to follow. They were 

 evidently those of a large buck deer, which Graham 

 now felt sure was of the white-tailed species. The 



