WOUNDING THE BIG BUCK. 121 
aquatic weeds and bushes. In about five minutes after 
gaining my position, I-was greeted by a sight of the beau- 
ty, who. hopped the fence where there was a broken rail, 
and, gaining the opening, for a moment halted, then toss- 
ing up his head, offered me a fair cross-shot nearly eighty 
yards distant. Pitching my gun well in front, I pulled the 
trigger, and well I knew not fruitlessly, for he gave a 
short protracted jump, dropped his white tail close into his 
hams, and with an increased pace disappeared in the swamp. 
Unless the wound was mortal, or so severe as to serious- 
ly incommode him, I was certain he would not be satisfied 
to remain in such close propinquity to danger, so, after 
reloading, I made a détour to find where he had left this 
cover to seek one more retired. My conjecture was cor- 
rect, for, after traveling nearly half a mile, I found the fa- 
miliar tell-tale track. The-snow was in pretty good order, 
both for tracking and walking, and I did not let the grass 
grow under my feet. As yet I had seen no signs of blood, 
which the more thoroughly impressed me.that my lead had 
made more than a skin-wound. In about an hour’s walk- 
ing, I found myself on the edge of another slough, which I 
was hesitating whether to enter or go round, when I espied 
‘my friend, some way beyond range, going over a neighbor- 
ing swell of the prairie. Of course.I cut off the angle and 
cast forward to where the view was obtained, and as I rose 
the swell, in the distance I saw my friend at a stand-still, 
evidently anxiously scrutinizing my direction. My cap was 
of a very light color, so I concluded he did not see me, and 
my supposition was again correct, for after .a few minutes 
he relaxed his pace, and turning at right angles, walked into 
a small expanse of dense rushes, interspersed with an occa- 
sional stunted willow. In deer-shooting, if you suppose an 
animal severely wounded, never hurry him; if he once lie 
down, and you give him time to stiffen, you will. not have 
6 
