THE MULE DEER. 161 



This day was to show me the value of my dog. Almost 

 every day— indeed, every day— the wind swept up the great 

 east ravine, and over its brow. Instead of going along the 

 brow, where I was at all times liable to be seen myself, I 

 kept back a little, out of sight, and left all to the nose of 

 my dog. He answered to the trust. He was the most 

 beautiful dog I ever saw — of far-famed strain, with every 

 instinct of the high-bred Setter born in him. I never ha,d to 

 teach him either to stand or retrieve; he did both by virtue 

 of his blood and birth. It was noon as I now skirted the 

 ravine just back from its edge. The wind came gently.and 

 freshly over the brow; the sun shone out brightly from the. 

 sky; the air was pure as the mountain stream beneath it, 

 and motion itself was a pleasure. All at once, Dash stepped 

 out from me, raised his nose a moment, and stole toward 

 the brow. There he stood, while I stepped beyond, an*d 

 saw one of the sights that make a sportsman's nerves tingle, 

 and set all his blood aglow. 



About fifteen rods down the steep hill-side was a proces- 

 sion, in line, of two does, a large buck, and two yearlings or 

 fawns behind. None saw me, and I had time for a choice. 

 From the buck's neck, I saw that he was in his full run, 

 and unfit for use. The does would be perfect. The two in 

 front were -walking rapidly, and I was waiting for them to 

 pause, when, looking ahead, a much larger doe, and evi- 

 dently the leader of the band, was standing, cropping grass. 

 I swung my rifle ahead, and, in my old instinct and folly, 

 fired low, for her heart. In an instant all was commotion. 

 I fired again, without effect, when the whole band went out 

 of sight. I went down for my doe. There was blood, there 

 was hair, but no doe in sight. I followed in the line she was 

 taking, but found no sign. I returned to the spot where 

 she had stood, when I noticed the gentle face of Dash turned 

 wistfully up to mine. 



' ' Dash, where is she % ' ' 



With a bound, he sprang down the hill-side, and beyond 

 him I saw my doe lying dead. She had made one vast 



spring of thirty feet down as the bullet struck her, and 



11 



