A DAY IN THE TABLE-LANDS. 185 



mouth of the gulch, and as one set of tracks leads to- 

 ward the water and the other set leads away from it, 

 there can be little doubt which course is the most 

 likely to be the one they last went. But to be sure 

 follow the trail until you find where one has stepped 

 in one of the earlier tracks. 



This last way is of course sure where you find such 

 a place. But deer may return by the side of their told 

 tracks. And several may even walk some distance in 

 a trail without stepping on an old track at all, or, at 

 all events, in a place where the dirt is soft enough to 

 plainly show which is the upper track. In such case, 

 if you think it worth while to follow the trail and 

 know nothing about the watering or feeding places or 

 anything else likely to determine the matter, observe 

 the following rules: 



ist. The tracks leading toward the highest ground 

 are likely to be the freshest. 



2d. So are the tracks that wander and straggle the 

 most from the main trail. 



3d. So are the tracks leading toward the most brushy 

 ground if the others lead toward pretty open ground. 



4th. So are the tracks leading away from where 

 there is the most travel, noise, or disturbance to a 

 place more quiet and retired. 



In nearly all such cases the first set of tracks is 

 made in the night or early in the morning, and the 

 other is the returning track. If you can apply none 

 of these rules, then take the track that gives you the 

 wind in your face. And if there is no wind, take the 

 sun on your back. 



At all events, we will follow here the trail that goes 

 away from water. And we may follow it quite fast 

 for some distance; for yonder in its direction are the 



