Year: 1870

knew had wounded the deer; for
l could see its blood upon the bushes
through which it had rushed after receiv-
ing the shot l thought of going back
for my horse before pursuing it. l had
left him tied to tree some two or three
hundred yards back, the better to ap-
proach the game. While hesitating, l
noticed clear sky through the timber or
three sides-right, left and in front. This
could be caused only by the river, as the
whole bottom land was covered with a
/ thick cottonwood forest. 1t must be a
bend in the stream, forming sort of
peninsula. with an isthmus of not more
than hundred yards in width, my posi-
tion being about midway between the re-
curvings of the river. In this case the
buck would be in trap, and could not
get back into the bottom-land without
passing me within shot. His only alter
native would be to take to the water,
which he might do, or might not. As it
was the broad Mississippi, he likely
would not; but, in any case, the horse
would be of no use there; and hastily re-
loading, walked on,


had no difficulty in taking up the
trail of the stricken animal Under the
shadow of the moss-trenised trees, the
soil was damp, and the "slot" was con-
spicuous-the more so, that the antlered
monarch of the forest evidently had been
laboring his flight. Once again | saw
gouts of blood upon the palmettos, brush
ed off from his bleeding fanks, as he ran
through them.


soon reached the edge of the river,
and there saw his hoofmarks in the mud
that selvedged the sloping bank. There
were no return tracks therefore he had
taken to the river. 1t was the Mississip-
pi, as have said, but not the main stream.
At glance, saw it was ''cutoF "a
small, wooded island interposing itself
between me and the great Father of
Waters" Beyond doubt the deer had
swan off to the island, there, equally be-
yond doubt, / supposed, to lie down and
die.


He was splendid buck, with not less
than a dozen "times" upon his antlers.
had noticed this while drawing bead
upon him. I wanted him for trophy,
and was determined to have him. But
how the branch stream, though not over
a hundred yards in width, was of rapid
turbulent current. Stripped, could swim
it, though not comfortably, or carry
dry certainly not to bring back
with me the carcass of large deer. The
horns, perhaps | might. Better the tro-
ply than nothing. u ar;;lTis.maI


l had half made up my mind to strip
and swim to the island, when bethought
me of boat, though of a little hope of
there being any near. uI--'.t |


Along the river for miles there was no
habitation. l had hunted there before
and knew it. For all this by sort of
involuntary inspiration, glanced inter-
negatively around, with my eyes sweep
ing whatever of water-surface was in
sight. . rH, ea- "v e3 ,.sc.


There was boat in sight, but it was
"fat",-a regular i" broad horn," and, of
course, unavailable for my purpose. 1t
was far out in the main-stream, beyond
the wooded islet, which it had already
passed. As l set my eyes upon it. it was
just running a jotting point below; and
as its great steering oar disappeared from
my sight, l could make out on the stern
beneath, painted in rudely shape letters
the name,


NANCY"


The Nancy could be of no use to me
and at once dismissing her from my mind
l was about to commence stripping, when
a canoe, shooting round the upper end Of
the islet, came right down the cutoff.
There were two men in it. They were
in their shirt-sleeves-red shirts, at that,
a good deal soiled and faded. Their fea-
lures were shaded by broad -brimed wool
hats, also the worse for wear did not
stop to scrutinize either their dress or fea-
lures, but at once hailed them. i