266 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



find the blood increasing on the trail you may expect 

 to find him dead, or very nearly so. But if it is de- 

 creasing it may need all your care to secure him. 



Most of this caution is often needless, especially on 

 snow and with a rifle of large caliber. But I have 

 given it on the plan I have followed throughout 

 giving best and surest methods. You will rarely lose 

 one by following too closely these rules, though they 

 may of course sometimes cause you unnecessary delay. 

 Where falling snow will hide the track, your only 

 chance is often to follow at once. 



Excited by the sight of blood and signs of stumb- 

 ling, burning with anxiety to retrieve the game, and 

 impatient of any delay, one is almost certain at first 

 to rush ahead after a crippled deer. But you must 

 remember that (except heading, etc.) all means of 

 pursuit, the trail, the blood, etc., if any, will generally 

 be just as available in four or six hours, perhaps even 

 the next day, as they are right after shooting. By 

 waiting you generally lose nothing. By not waiting 

 you may lose all. 



Nor is it always advisable to slip a dog at once, if 

 you have one by you. For the sake of keeping him 

 in good habits, he should never be allowed to start 

 from your side for a moment or two, or until you give 

 the word. And even then it is not always best to let 

 him go until you get some idea of how the deer is 

 wounded, and how far he will run. If he is likely to 

 lie down soon it may be folly to slip your dog; for a 

 deer that would lie down in two minutes and never 

 get up if left alone may run for miles if kept going, 

 and even if your dog be swift and sure he may run 

 the deer into thick brush or some bad ground where 

 it will bother you to get him out. Moreover, the 



