H FOLLOWING 
THE DEER 
as they approached the river. But 
what was this? The whole end of 
the bluff was under my eye, and no 
buck standing at bay or running 
wildly along the bank to escape. 
The tracks were farther apart now, 
rushing straight at the edge of the 
cliff in great leaps. My heart quick- 
ened its beat, as if I were nerving 
myself for a supreme effort. Would 
he do it ? would he dare ? 
A foot this side the brink the 
lichens were torn away where the 
sharp hoofs had cut down to solid 
earth. Thirty feet beyond, well over 
the farther bank and ten feet below 
the level where I stood, the fresh 
earth showed clearly among the hoof- 
