X 
THE BEAR 
385 
The forest was peculiarly dark, and the earth 
was so soft from the decaying pine needles, that 
our horses made no noise, unless when occasionally 
their hoofs struck against the brittle branches of a 
fallen tree. We were thus riding, always keeping 
a bright look-out, when Bob (who was leading) 
suddenly sprang from his mare, and as quick as 
lightning fired at a black-tail buck, that was stand¬ 
ing about 80 yards upon our right. His shot had 
no effect; the deer, which had not before observed 
us, started at the shot, and stood again, without 
moving more than three or four yards. Bob had re¬ 
loaded his Sharp like magic, and he fired another 
shot, hitting it through the neck, as it was gazing 
directly towards us ; it fell dead, without moving 
a foot. 
We rode up to the buck ; it was in beautiful 
condition, but the horns were in velvet, and were 
useless, I now watched with admiration the 
wonderful dexterity with which Bob, as a profes¬ 
sional skin-hunter, divested this buck of its hide. 
It appeared to me that I could hardly take off my 
own clothes (if I were to commence with my great¬ 
coat) quicker than he ripped off the skin from this 
beautiful beast. With very little delay, the hide 
was neatly folded up, and secured to the Mexican 
saddle by the long leathern thongs, which form 
portions of that excellent invention. 
Bob remounted his mare, with the skin strapped 
behind the cantle, like a military valise; and we 
continued on our way. “That was a quick shot, 
2 c 
VOL. I 
