foot-mark of a deer, or
buffalo, or a wolf. If ever I saw the print of a moccasin, that is one.
See, however, the toes are pointing from the wood, though the red-skin,
when he found that he was stepping on soft ground, sprang back, but
probably did not think it worth while to obliterate the mark."

"Possibly there was only a single hunter, and he can do us no harm, even
if he should desire it," I observed; "perhaps indeed, that is the print
of a white man's foot, for many wear moccasins, even in summer."

We searched about, but although we discovered several marks which we
believed were produced by human feet, we could not be certain. Had an
Indian been with us he would have solved the question in a minute. We
therefore remounted, and believing that we were not likely to fall in
with enemies, continued our course.

We soon reached the wood, which was very similar in character to the one
we had before hunted in, with an undergrowth of willows near a stream,
while in other places were clumps of wild rose trees, still covered with
bloom. Penetrating into the wood, we selected a spot for our camp,
where we could leave our horses under charge of Martin and Dan while we
went in search of game. In a short time we reached the borders of a
glade, in which, from the appearance of the grass, we hoped to see some
deer browsing.

After proceeding some distance we caught sight of a herd at the farther
end coming leisurely own towards us, cropping the grass on their way.
The wind blowing from them to us, we settled to remain concealed behind
some thick bushes until they should come within range of our rifles.
Presently a fine stag advanced ahead of the herd. He halted when still
too far off to give us a hope of killing him. His movements were
singular, as he pawed the ground and butted with his horns. The reason
of this was soon apparent, for from the opposite side another stag
issued forth from among the trees, and advanced rapidly towards him. On
seeing his antagonist, the first rushed to meet him, and the two stags
engaged in a fierce combat. We might possibly have got close enough to
shoot both, but by so doing we should have lost our chance of killing
any of the rest of the herd, whose flesh was of more value than that of
the old stags.

We were waiting the issue of the battle, supposing that the deer would
then approach, when we heard a shot and caught sight of a number of
animals scampering across the glade. The