204 MULE DEER

big and was alone, and I felt confident that it was he. He was then just walking slowly and making his way along the side of the hill. I watched him until the light completely failed and he vanished into the gloom. Then I hurried down to camp and a welcome meal. If it did not snow that night I felt sure I should find him not far away the next day.

It was barely light when the chase was again resumed. First of all the trail was picked up and followed down to and across the creek. This was easy, as the stag had crossed about two hundred yards below my camp, though at one time he was within closer shot of it. After crossing the creek the trail led me, across a bit of a flat, straight away, but then turned sharply back up the creek. There was no doubt in my mind now that the deer I had viewed the evening before was the right one. My plan of action was at once decided on. I knew the lie of the land well and had a fair idea of where the stag would make for ; therefore, instead of following the trail, I kept » on up the hill with the intention of getting well above where I had seen him last, and then spying all the likely benches and hiding-places below me. If in this way I failed to detect him, it would be simple to go down and pick up the trail again.

For some two ‘hours I hunted in vain; not a glimpse of him was to be had, though I spied every nook and corner of the side hill for a long way up the creek from where I had last seen him. At last I spotted what looked like a bed away below me among a clump of trees on the edge of a narrow bench. With my glasses I fancied I could make out a blood stain, so I went down to make sure. It was a bed all right; in fact, there were three of them in close proximity ; they all had blood stains and were made by my stag, but he had moved some time before. Poor brute! he must have been in pain and not able to rest, and it was cruel to have had to leave him all night.

It was evident that my stag had moved of his own account, as his tracks showed that he had just walked