LooKING FOR ANTLERS. 153 

*¢ Kureka,” for he had taken exactly what I was now sure 
was his usual path, and was heading for the north barren. 
His trim shaped track corresponded every way with those 
we had examined upon the pond, and he had passed over the 
trail, certainly not twenty minutes before my coming, for the 
upper edge of his tracks were yet clean cut and perfect, while 
all else around was melting and dissolving from the warmth. 
saWielleilet’s see; a quarter of twelve. Matches? Yes. 
Axe? No—it’s at the camp. But I can break cedar limbs. 
Pipe and tobacco? Yes. Looks like more rain any time 
soon, and no moon. Compass? Sure! Gracious! had a 
good dinner anyway.” And all this time while soliloquizing, 
I am creeping through the bushes and between and under- 
neath the trees beside his tracks, looking near, and far ahead 
between the dripping trees, and when it offers, having a large 
tree in line to creep to and stop beside it a moment, but only 
using time enough to look well to each side and ahead, then 
on, depending upon my eyes altogether, as the sounds from 
the breaking of sticks, if any, would reach but little way such 
a day, and they so wet. But contrary to my calculations, and 
apparently the aforesaid buck is not going very straight for 
the barren, for the sun is shining on my left now as I follow, 
and should the east wind again breeze up fresh and strong, I 
shall see a clean pair of heels in the air most likely. Stiil I 
am tramping on, hoping for all kinds of chances in my favor, 
though it locks dubious just on this tack at present. On now 
he goes yet keeping westerly, never taking a bite as yet 
or turning aside except to dodge the windfalls of old trees 
upon the ground. And now he crosses an old road which is 
nearly two miles from his supposed route. 
On up the rising ground and upon the level top of it, his 
