THE FIRST SIGHT OF GAME. 89 



getting sight of them at all. And never shall you see 

 the time when, in spite of all your care, the white flag 

 will not occasionally wave you such a farewell. You 

 were not to blame; for there are times when a deer 

 will see the hunter first and no amount of skill or 

 caution on his part can prevent it. Still, you might as 

 well allow this escape to intensify your caution about 

 walking quietly, as well as your keenness of vision. 



Old Phoebus has his wain hitched up at last; its 

 glowing axle is climbing fast the eastern sky; the 

 tree-tops begin to whisper in the rising breeze. It is 

 time the deer were beginning to move toward their 

 lying-down ground, and we might as well work that 

 way. But let us not go too fast. 



Stop! There is one just below the crest of yonder 

 ridge; just in the edge of a little clump of brush; 

 about ten feet to the left of that tall basswood. 



You cannot see any deer? Do you not see that 

 dark low thing shaped nearly like a piece of log 

 right in the edge of the brush ? 



That is no deer ? Well, if you cannot take my word 

 for it, go on and satisfy yourself. Show more of your 

 head and shoulders, of course. Smash a stick or two 

 while twisting your head around for a better view. 



As you raise your head for a better view there is a 

 sudden change. Something like the deer of the artist 

 is suddenly standing beside the bush, looking rather 

 small, it is true, but an unmistakable picture-deer, 

 vastly different from what you saw a second ago and 

 very pretty and sculpturesque. It stands just long 

 enough to allow you to think of your rifle; then there 

 is a graceful undulation of white banner over the 

 ridge; and in a second you are again gazing sadly at 

 vacancv. 



