ot where
Malachi thought that they would fall in with some venison, which was the
principal game that they sought. It was not till near ten o'clock in
the morning that they stood on the ground which had been selected for
the sport. It was an open part of the forest, and the snow lay in large
drifts, but here and there on the hill-sides the grass was nearly bare,
and the deer were able, by scraping with their feet, to obtain some
food. They were all pretty well close together when they arrived.
Percival and Henry were about a quarter of a mile behind, for Percival
was not used to the snow-shoes, and did not get on so well as the
others, Malachi and the rest with him halted, that Henry and Percival
might come up with them, and then, after they had recovered their breath
a little, he said, "Now, you see there's a fine lot of deer here, Master
Percival, but as you know nothing about woodcraft, and may put us all
out, observe what I say to you. The animals are not only cute of
hearing and seeing, but they are more cute of smell, and they can scent
a man a mile off if the wind blows down to them; so you see it would be
useless to attempt to get near to them if we do not get to the lee side
of them without noise and without being seen. Now the wind has been
from the eastward, and as we are to the southward, we must get round by
the woods to the westward, before we go upon the open ground, and then,
Master Percival, you must do as we do, and keep behind, to watch our
motions. If we come to a swell in the land, you must not run up, or
even walk up, as you might show yourself; the deer might be on the other
side, within twenty yards of you, but you must hide yourself, as you
will see that we shall do; and when we have found them, I will put you
in a place where you shall have your shot as well as we. Do you
understand, Master Percival?"

"Yes, I do, and I shall stop behind, and do as you tell me."

"Well then, now, we will go back into the thick of the forest till we
get to leeward, and then we shall see whether you will make a hunter or
not."

The whole party did as Malachi directed, and for more than an hour they
walked through the wood, among the thickest of the trees, that they
might not be seen by the animals. At last they arrived at the spot
which Malachi desired, and then they changed their course eastward,
towards the more open ground, where they expected to find the deer.

As they entered upon the open ground