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show him the animal。 Immediately he began to pant as though at the
finish of a mile race； and his rifle； when he leveled it； covered a good half
acre of ground。 This would never do。
〃Hold on！〃 I interrupted sharply。
He lowered his weapon to stare at me wild…eyed。
〃What is it？〃 he gasped。
〃Stop a minute！〃 I commanded。 〃Now take three deep breaths。〃
He did so。
〃Now shoot；〃 I advised； 〃and aim at his knees。〃
The deer was now on his feet and facing us； so the Tenderfoot had the
entire length of the animal to allow for lineal variation。 He fired。 The
deer dropped。 The Tenderfoot thrust his hat over one eye； rested hand on
hip in a manner cocky to behold。
〃Simply slaughter！〃 he proffered with lofty scorn。
We descended。 The bullet had broken the deer's backabout six
inches from the tail。 The Tenderfoot had overshot by at least three feet。
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You will see many deer thus from the trail；in fact； we kept up our
meat supply from the saddle； as one might say；but to enjoy the finer
savor of seeing deer； you should start out definitely with that object in
view。 Thus you have opportunity for the display of a certain finer
woodcraft。 You must know where the objects of your search are likely to
be found； and that depends on the time of year； the time of days their age；
their sex； a hundred little things。 When the bucks carry antlers in the
velvet； they frequent the inaccessibilities of the highest rocky peaks； so
their tender horns may not be torn in the brush； but nevertheless so that the
advantage of a lofty viewpoint may compensate for the loss of cover。
Later you will find them in the open slopes of a lower altitude； fully
exposed to the sun； that there the heat may harden the antlers。 Later still；
the heads in fine condition and tough to withstand scratches； they plunge
into the dense thickets。 But in the mean time the fertile does have sought
a lower country with patches of small brush interspersed with open
passages。 There they can feed with their fawns； completely concealed；
but able； by merely raising the head； to survey the entire landscape for the
threatening of danger。 The barren does； on the other hand； you will find
through the timber and brush； for they are careless of all responsibilities
either to offspring or headgear。 These are but a few of the considerations
you will take into account； a very few of the many which lend the deer
countries strange thrills of delight over new knowledge gained； over crafty
expedients invented or well utilized； over the satisfactory matching of
your reason； your instinct； your subtlety and skill against the reason；
instinct； subtlety； and skill of one of the wariest of large wild animals。
Perversely enough the times when you did NOT see deer are more apt
to remain vivid in your memory than the times when you did。 I can still
see distinctly sundry wide jump…marks where the animal I was tracking
had evidently caught sight of me and lit out before I came up to him。
Equally； sundry little thin disappearing clouds of dust； cracklings of brush；
growing ever more distant； the tops of bushes waving to the steady
passage of something remaining persistently concealed；these are the
chief ingredients often repeated which make up deer…stalking memory。
When I think of seeing deer； these things automatically rise。
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A few of the deer actually seen do； however； stand out clearly from the
many。 When I was a very small boy possessed of a 32…20 rifle and large
ambitions； I followed the advantage my father's footsteps made me in the
deep snow of an unused logging…road。 His attention was focused on
some very interesting fresh tracks。 I； being a small boy； cared not at all
for tracks； and so saw a big doe emerge from the bushes not ten yards
away； lope leisurely across the road； and disappear； wagging earnestly her
tail。 When I had recovered my breath I vehemently demanded the sense
of fooling with tracks when there were real live deer to be had。 My
father examined me。
〃Well； why didn't you shoot her？〃 he inquired dryly。
I hadn't thought of that。
In the spring of 1900 I was at the head of the Piant River waiting for
the log…drive to start。 One morning； happening to walk over a slashing of
many years before in which had grown a strong thicket of white popples； I
jumped a band of nine deer。 I shall never forget the bewildering
impression made by the glancing； dodging； bouncing white of those nine
snowy tails and rumps。
But most wonderful of all was a great buck； of I should be afraid to
say how many points； that stood silhouetted on the extreme end of a ridge
high above our camp。 The time was just after twilight； and as we
watched； the sky lightened behind him in prophecy of the moon。
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XI
ON TENDERFEET
The tenderfoot is a queer beast。 He makes more trouble than ants at a
picnic； more work than a trespassing goat； he never sees anything； knows
where anything is； remembers accurately your instructions； follows them
if remembered； or is able to handle without awkwardness his large and
pathetic hands and feet； he is always lost； always falling off or into things；
always in difficulties； his articles of necessity are constantly being burned
up or washed away or mislaid； he looks at you beamingly through great
innocent eyes in the most chuckle…headed of manners； he exasperates you
to within an inch of explosion；and yet you love him。
I am referring now to the real tenderfoot； the fellow who cannot learn；
who is incapable ever of adjusting himself to the demands of the wild life。
Sometimes a man is merely green； inexperienced。 But give him a chance
and he soo