s. My companion
laughed, as he pointed triumphantly to his new made `call.'

"`Now, master,' said he, `we'll soon "rub out" one of the long-tail
bucks.'

"So saying, he took up the antlers, and desired me to follow him.

"We proceeded as before, walking quickly but cautiously among the
thickets, and around their edges. We had gone only a few hundred paces
farther, when the hollow whistle of a buck sounded in our ears.

"`Now,' muttered Dick, `we have him. Squat down, master, under the
bush--so.'

"I did as desired, hiding myself under the leafy branches of the wild
rose-trees. My companion cowered down beside me in such an attitude
that he himself was concealed, while the buck's head and antlers were
held above the foliage, and visible from several points where the ground
was open.

"As soon as we were fairly placed, Dick applied the call to his lips,
and blew his mimic note several times in succession. We heard what
appeared to be an echo, but it was the response of a rival; and shortly
after we could distinguish a hoof-stroke upon the dry turf, as if some
animal was bounding towards us.

"Presently appeared a fine buck, at an opening between two copses, about
one hundred paces from the spot where we lay. It had halted, thrown
back upon its flanks until its haunches almost touched the ground, while
its full large eye glanced over the opening, as if searching for some
object.

"At this moment Dick applied the reed to his lips, at the same time
moving the horns backward and forward, in imitation of a buck moving his
head in a threatening manner.

"The stranger now perceived what appeared to him the branching horns of
a rival, hearing, at the same time, the well-known challenge. This was
not to be borne, and rising erect on all-fours, with his brow-antlers
set forward, he accepted the challenge, and came bounding forward.

"At the distance of twenty paces or so, be again baited, as if still
uncertain of the character of his enemy; but that halt was fatal to him,
for by Dick's directions I had made ready my rifle, and taking sight at
his breast, I pulled trigger. The result was as my companion had
predicted, and the buck was `rubbed out.'

"After skinning our game, and hanging the meat out of reach of the
barking wolves, we proceeded as before; and soon after another buck was
slain in a manner very similar to that described.

"This ended our day's hunt, as it was late before Dick had bethought him
o