110 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
While we are performing the necessary operation of 
loading, a description of our armament will not be inappro- 
priate. Will (as I will call him) had an antiquated, un- 
couth rifle, with the old-fashioned double trigger, the sec- 
ond to set the hair-spring—an invention I had seldom pre- 
viously seen and never used, which, although possessed of 
no finish, could shoot “ plumb centre ;” while I myself had 
my trusty double-barrel ten-bore, which, from long experi- 
ence and association, I was aware had only to be held 
straight to do correct work. 
A large swamp about half a mile off was a favorite resort 
for deer, and to it we directed our steps: but before we 
had gone half the distance we came across numercus tracks, 
so fresh that we kept a sharp lookout in all directions, hop- 
ing every moment to be gratified with the sight of some 
antlered monarch. Failing in this, we changed our tactics, 
friend Will posting me on the margin of a branch of the 
swamp, with my back against the butt of a tree, with in- 
structions to remain still and keep‘a sharp lookout, while 
he would take a détour, and possibly drive some stragglers 
across the run which my position commanded. Slowly, 
after Will started, the time passed; the forest appeared 
perfectly deserted; not a squirrel or bird showed itself to 
break the monotony, except an angry, squabbling family of 
woodpeckers, who appeared to have some serious disagree- 
ment in reference to the possession of a hole in the trunk 
of a dead giant tree. Wet feet are never conducive to 
comfort, and much less so when you are prevented from 
taking exercise; besides, it was bitterly cold. First I 
stood on one leg, then on the other, after the manner of 
geese, which birds I began to consider I much resembled, 
till at last the inaction became so unendurable that I was 
very nearly taking up my gun and starting in pursuit of 
my supposed recreant friend. 
