1 TAKE OFF MV SHOES. 
127 
and I was able to get within thirty-five yards of them. They 
were both lying down. Just as I raised my rifle the buck 
looked up and saw me^ but it was too late, for the next 
second a ball from the big rifle was crashing through his 
/ TAKE OFF MY SHOES, 
shoulder. They were up in a moment and disappeared down 
the rock but I knew the saddle back was done for. I ran 
on to the edge and saw him below^ me on his side, giving his 
last kick, the doe standing near him, but before I could pull 
the trigger she was off; I waited for her to stoj.) at a rock, 
and as she did so, I fired and heard the tell, but she dashed 
on as if unhurt. I saw her farther down staggering by the 
edge of a precipice, and after one or two struggles to keep 
her feet, over she went clean down into the valley below. I 
whistled nearly all the wind out of me for Francis, as a thick 
mist covering everything was coming up; at last he came and 
