230 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



people travel; for a deer knows about as well as a man 

 what a road means. But even when there is no road 

 deer will sometimes stand. And then they will be apt 

 to trot off and walk, trot or run for a mile or two, and 

 look back just as if pursued. Therefore, when some 

 one comes rushing in and tells you about an "awful 

 big buck" he just saw along the road or near a spring, 

 instead of rushing frantically out on a wild-goose 

 chase, just coolly inquire what the deer was doing, 

 whether he saw your informant or not, and whether 

 he moved away, and whether he went off on a walk, 

 trot, or run. And remember that a deer started by 

 some one else is no better to follow than one you have 

 started yourself. 



When you start a deer that you cannot see, but only 

 hear or get a glimpse of, spring at once to the highest 

 bit of ground at hand. And if you do not see the game 

 at once do not get uneasy, for it may have stopped a 

 moment in brush or somewhere where you cannot at 

 once see it. You will generally lose nothing by such 

 patience, for if your deer has passed on out of sight 

 you will be too late to head him off. And if you are 

 going to track him there is no haste. But if you see 

 him again at all shoot at once, for it is likely to be 

 your last chance for that time. 



Antelope rarely stop to look back much until at a 

 pretty safe distance. They are generally sufficiently 

 amused with the first crack of a rifle,and have little more 

 curiosity about its nature or direction. And though they 

 may stop and take a long look at you, and look very 

 large and close as they loom up against the sky, yet 

 that stopping-point is faraway, and the moment you 

 move they are apt to move also. There is little or no 

 chance for you to head off or flank these slippery 



