THE CHASE. 389 
try, and the relative position of the timber and the prairie, and 
acting upon the combined suggestion of all these, he regulates 
his course. 
A very enjoyable mode of hunting the deer in the prairie 
country is for a party of four or six to make the hunt in com- 
pany. The time selected should be in the autumn, say October. 
The outfit should consist of two or three tents, with the neces- 
sary utensils and provisions, a cook, a teamster, and one servant, 
besides a good pair of horses and large wagon to transport the 
impedimenta, a well trained strong horse, who should be a good 
goer, and a good deer-dog for each man. A double-barreled 
gun, — one barrel a rifle and the other for buckshot, — a few extra 
guns, ammunition, and a kit of fine tools, blankets, robes, etc. 
Having arrived on the ground, make your camp in some grove 
or belt of timber near a spring of water, where good grass may 
be found for the spanceled horses. 
The hunt commences with daylight, and may be around the 
borders of the timber, each one pursuing his own course, depend- 
ing on his judgment of the ground. The question is at what 
points the deer will be likely to make their exit into the prairie. 
Here the hunters place themselves sometimes on horseback and 
sometimes on foot. The sportsman being secreted in a com- 
manding position favored -by the wind, by the time the first rays 
of light stream up from the east he listens with the deepest at- 
tention for the rustle of a leaf, the cracking of a twig or other 
slight noise, to indicate that the game is astir, and to determine 
the course it is pursuing, and if a change of position is necessary 
to intercept it. If he has not scented his enemy, the deer 
emerges from the thicket to the prairie in a leisurely walk, and 
becomes an easy mark for the rifle, if within a reasonable range. 
If there should be several deer, as is apt to be the case, and the 
distance not too great, the buckshot are first discharged and the 
rifle used at the longer range, or if they are in close range a 
deadly shot is made with the rifle and the other barrel used for 
the running shot. 
After the morning hunt the party assemble at camp, where 
the cook has prepared breakfast, which each one takes as he 
comes in, if all do not arrive together. The team is sent to 
bring in the game, and its return is expected by the time break- 
fast is over, and the pipes smoked. Preparations are now made 
for the day’s hunt in the prairie. Each one takes in his pocket 
a lunch (they always use the abbreviated word) of bread or 
