HUNTING IN THE OPEN AND IN TIMBER. 215 



and broad rugged limbs festooned with hoary moss, 

 they form an almost continuous shade. Along the side 

 valleys, knolls, and benches stand in silent majesty 

 vast old evergreen white-oaks, the acorns of which the 

 deer prefer even to those of the common live-oak. 



Is this a hunt or only an evening stroll through a 

 grand old English park ? Before us the ground 

 stretches away like a gently undulating carpet ; here 

 are soft foot-paths running here and there ; on all 

 hands are the massive old trees ; here is the cool, de- 

 lightful shade, and the softest of breezes playing 

 through. And there, too, are the deer, the only thing 

 needed to make the park complete ; three standing 

 under yonder tree, and two lying down like cattle be- 

 neath it. 



Those deer are gone, so we will saunter along farther. 

 Take a look into these little side pockets as you go 

 along, and even up on those benches. Take good long 

 looks down the vistas that open through the timber 

 in various directions, and stoop down occasionally for 

 a longer view. We may not see anything ahead for 

 some time, for those deer have probably stampeded 

 everything on their route. But perhaps they soon 

 turned off into the hills. Go slowly now, and keep a 

 sharp watch on each side, for there are plenty of deer 

 here somewhere, as you can see by the numerous 

 tracks, and 



Bump-crash-bump-bump-crash comes suddenly from 

 the head of a little side ravine ; and just as the rifle 

 comes to your shoulder the heavy green chapparal 

 closes over a fat, glossy rump. 



You see it is just as necessary to be careful about 

 showing your head around a corner as about showing 

 it over a ridge. There is absolutely no way in which 



