THE CHASE. 395 



When the party is made up, the ground agreed upon, and the 

 time fixed, the dogs should be well fed over night, but they must 

 not be allowed to take food in the morning, which will require 

 much time for digestion. An early start should be made and 

 the party proceed to the field at a smart walk. The dogs should 

 follow on foot for two or three miles, when they should be taken 

 into a wagon, in which they should ride the balance of the way. 

 The deer, it will be found, have long since left the timber to seek 

 repose through the day in the high grass, and generally will be 

 found in the sloughs, but in unburned prairie, sometimes in patches 

 on the high ground. In the fall of the year, or in the winter, of 

 course the deer can remain in the low ground undisturbed by the 

 flies and mosquitoes. 



Arrived upon the ground, the hunters should arrange themselves 

 abreast across the slough, so separated as to beat the whole. 

 The progress is up the slough from the timber and towards the 

 wide open prairie, so as to enable the flankers to cut off: the deer 

 from the timber and drive them into the field, for if they once 

 reach the timber they are safe from the pursuit of the grey- 

 hound. Being thus arranged, the hunters proceed up the slough 

 through the high grass, the pack i-eraaining near the centre of the 

 line with their master. When a deer is started a shout is raised, 

 and a rush is made in the direction of the game. This is in- 

 stantly understood by the pack, and they spring forward in the 

 direction thus indicated, jumping high to get a sight of the game. 

 Their observation and progress are obstructed by the tall grass, 

 so that by the time they reach the open ground the deer has at- 

 tained a considerable start. Now the real chase commences. 

 The dogs and horses, stimulated by excitement and the loud 

 shouts of the hunters, lay down to their work beautifully. The 

 deer shapes his course for the nearest point of timber. With 

 long and rapid strides he' skims the ground almost like a bird on 

 the wing, never spending his strength by high bounds, but running 

 low and rapidly he passes over the ground with great swiftness. 

 But if the ground is well chosen there will be miles of naked 

 prairie before him, and he soon feels the pressure of his great ex- 

 ertions. He improves his chances by taking advantage of the 

 inequality of the ground or tall grass, which may hide him from the 

 sight of the dogs ; but the experienced hunter anticipates these 

 movements and turns them to the disadvantage of the pursued 

 by making a shorter cut when the deer makes a circuit, or gains 

 upon him when he is obliged to slacken his pace in the denser 



