THE MULE DEER. 167 



ing from size and antlers and the number of points he 

 carried. The rutting-season had not fairly reached him yet, 

 though the signs of its coming were not wanting. 



On this Deer, the most striking markings, to me, have, 

 always been the deep jet-black of the brisket and belly, 

 and the rich cinnamon of all the legs from the knees down. 

 Notice, too, the stouter, shorter legs and longer body than 

 those of our common Deer — all designed for that peculiar 

 gait and motion which so fit him for his home among the 

 rough, volcanic hills. The short, stout legs bear the pound- 

 ing jump; the pounding jump sinks the foot into the loose 

 debris or sets it firmly on the rocks, and gives firm hold for 

 the next jump; and the whole form bespeaks an animal 

 needing sure foot-hold rather than grace of motion or speed. 

 And this glossy, satin, steel-mixed coat is excelled by that 

 of none of the genus Cervidce. 



I am three miles from camp. To go for old George and 

 get my Deer to camp will fairly take up my day. Once in 

 camp, I rest for the remainder of the afternoon, content 

 with my success and its singular incidents. I am lonely 

 to-night. Our nature craves fellowship of its kind, and I 

 have no admiration for hermit life, and the monastic, with 

 its revolt against nature and its certain results, was always 

 revolting. 



To get my Deer down to the road, and get back to camp 

 again, took up most of my time next day, but my good 

 luck was still to stay with me. After a hearty afternoon 

 dinner, I still had an hour or two of light, and decided to 

 use it. Just west of my camp, half a mile, was a shallow 

 canon, with but few trees, quite rough and rocky, and yet I 

 had seen much sign of Deer there — some shrubs, perhaps, 

 or alkali earth, of which they are fond; but I had never 

 found any there in fact. To-night, as I drew near the head, 

 somewhat carelessly, for I did not look for much, a large 

 buck and three does ran out from a thicket, while I was 

 yet four hundred yards away. 



I hear and read a great deal about ' ' pumping your Win- 

 chesters or Bullards at them" till you hit one, but it has 



