
30 THE SENSES OF SIGHT AND SMELL. 
I anticipated, on his third or fourth bound he gave me a 
chance, and I fired as he was descending. His heels flew 
-into the air with a snap as if his hoofs would fly off, and he 
‘fell all in a heap. There was something in the size of the 
deer and of his horns, the way in which his hind legs, as 
quick as lightening, stretched almost perpendicularly in the 
air, and the mode of his falling, which produced a thrill of 
delight which I have never before or since experienced. I 
reloaded as quickly as possible and approached the spot 3 
where he fell. The first sight told what was the matter. He a 4 
had raised himself on his forefeet, and was looking fiercely — 
around for an enemy, every hair on his shoulders and neck 5 | 
^ standing forward, and his eyes glaring with the ferocity of a " 
demon. All behind his shoulders appeared quite inanimate — 
and as wilted as a rag. His backbone was severed just * 
- behind his shoulders. It took another shot in the head to — 
- induce him to let me bleed him. By the time this was done, — 
a little old man, with a rifle on his shoulder, made his way d 1 
through the bushes to where I stood, and looked at my 
trophy in a most disconsolate way. At length he remarked, — 
without taking the least notice of my salutation, “Well, you 
have got him.” To this manifest truth I assented, and asked 
him to help slue the deer around that he might bleed the 
better, as he was rather heavy for one to handle. "Excuse 
me," said he, "I have been following that rascal ever since 
daylight. I am a good way from home with no time to 
spare;" and away he hurried before I had time to offer to 
divide the venison with him. Probably that is not the only 
instance in which one has lost a supper by.being in too great 
haste. 

See ee eT aN Te ee ag Eee ee Oe ee Y ERN : 
USC E E 

AE CE RS 













Although the deer had his attention arrested by the scent, 
. and in full view of my entire form, and of the dog standing 
at my feet, yet from not seeing the least motion, he could 
not make us out. 
w 

