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finding a deer by roaming at random。 It was a case for trailing。
Any one can track a deer in the snow。 It is not very hard to
follow a deer in soft ground； when there are no other deer about。
But it is very hard to take one deer trail and follow it over
rocky ground and dead leaves； never losing it or changing off；
when there are hundreds of deer tracks running in all directions。
Rolf's eyes were better than Quonab's； but experience counts for
as much as eyes； and Quonab was leading。 They picked out a big
buck track that was fresh no good hunter kills a doe at this
season。 They knew it for a buck； because of its size and the
roundness of the toes。
Before long； Rolf said： 〃See； Quonab； I want to learn this
business； let me do the trailing； and you set me right if I get
off the line。〃
Within a hundred yards； Quonab gave a grunt and shook his head。
Rolf looked surprised； for he was on a good； fresh track。
Quonab said but one word； 〃Doe。〃
Yes； a closer view showed the tracks to be a little narrower； a
little closer together； and a little sharper than those he began
with。
Back went Rolf to the last marks that he was sure of； and plainly
read where the buck had turned aside。 For a time； things went
along smoothly； Quonab and Skookum following Rolf。 The last was
getting very familiar with that stub hoof on the left foot。 At
length they came to the 〃fumet〃 or 〃sign〃； it was all in one
pile。 That meant the deer had stood； so was unalarmed； and warm；
that meant but a few minutes ahead。 Now； they must use every
precaution for this was the crux of the hunt。 Of this much only
they were sure the deer was within range now； and to get him
they must see him before he saw them。
Skookum was leashed。 Rolf was allowed to get well ahead； and
crawling cautiously； a step at a time； he went； setting down his
moccasined foot only after he had tried and selected a place。
Once or twice he threw into the air a tuft of dry grass to make
sure that the wind was right； and by slow degrees he reached the
edge of a little opening。
Across this he peered long； without entering it。 Then he made a
sweep with his hand and pointed； to let Quonab know the buck had
gone across and he himself must go around。 But he lingered still
and with his eyes swept the near woods。 Then； dim gray among the
gray twigs； he saw a slight movement； so slight it might have
been made by the tail of a tomtit。 But it fixed his attention；
and out of this gray haze he slowly made out the outline of a
deer's head； antlers； and neck。 A hundred yards away； but 〃take
a chance when it comes〃 is hunter wisdom。 Rolf glanced at the
sight； took steady aim； fired； and down went the buck behind a
log。 Skookum whined and leaped high in his eagerness to see。
Rolf restrained his impatience to rush forward； at once reloaded；
then all three went quickly to the place。 Before they were
within fifty yards； the deer leaped up and bounded off。 At
seventy…five yards； it stood for a moment to gaze。 Rolf fired
again； again the buck fell down； but jumped to its feet and
bounded away。
They went to the two places； but found no blood。 Utterly puzzled；
they gave it up for the day； as already the shades of night were
on the woods； and in spite of Skookum's voluble offer to solve
and settle everything； they returned to the cabin。
〃What do you make of it； Quonab？'
The Indian shook his head； then： 〃Maybe touched his head and
stunned him； first shot； second； wah！ I not know。〃
〃I know this；〃 said Rolf。 〃I touched him and I mean to get him
in the morning。〃
True to this resolve； he was there again at dawn； but examined
the place in vain for a sign of blood。 The red rarely shows up
much on leaves； grass； or dust； but there are two kinds of places
that the hunter can rely on as telltales stones and logs。
Rolf followed the deer track； now very dim； till at a bare place
he found a speck of blood on a pebble。 Here the trail joined
onto a deer path； with so many tracks that it was hard to say
which was the right one。 But Rolf passed quickly along to a log
that crossed the runway； and on that log he found a drop of
dried…up blood that told him what he wished to know。
Now he had a straight run of a quarter of a mile； and from time
to time he saw a peculiar scratching mark that puzzled him。 Once
he found a speck of blood at one of these scratches but no other
evidence that the buck was touched。
A wounded deer is pretty sure to work down hill； and Quonab；
leaving Skookum with Rolf； climbed a lookout that might show
whither the deer was heading。
After another half mile； the deer path forked； there were buck
trails on both； and Rolf could not pick out the one he wanted。
He went a few yards along each； studying the many marks； but was
unable to tell which was that of the wounded buck。
Now Skookum took a share in it。 He had always been forbidden to
run deer and knew it was a contraband amusement； but he put his
nose to that branch of the trail that ran down hill； followed it
for a few yards； then looked at Rolf； as much as to say： 〃You
poor nose…blind creature； don't you know a fresh deer track when
you smell it？ Here it is； this is where he went。〃
Rolf stared； then said； 〃I believe he means it〃； and followed the
lower trail。 Very soon he came to another scrape； and； just
beyond it； found the new； velvet…covered antler of a buck； raw
and bloody； and splintered at the base。
From this on； the task was easier； as there were no other tracks；
and this was pointing steadily down hill。
Soon Quonab came striding along。 He had not seen the buck； but a
couple of jays and a raven were gathered in a thicket far down by
the stream。 The hunters quit the trail and made for that place。
As they drew near； they found the track again； and again saw
those curious scrapes。
Every hunter knows that the bluejay dashing about a thicket means
that hidden there is game of some kind； probably deer。 Very；
very slowly and silently they entered that copse。 But nothing
appeared until there was a rush in the thickest part and up
leaped the buck。 This was too much for Skookum。 He shot forward
like a wolf； fastened on one hind leg； and the buck went crashing
head over heels。 Before it could rise； another shot ended its
troubles。 And now a careful study shed the light desired。 Rolf's
first shot had hit the antler near the base； breaking it； except
for the skin on one side； and had stunned the buck。 The second
shot had broken a hind leg。 The scratching places he had made
were efforts to regain the use of this limb； and at one of them
the deer had fallen and parted the rag of skin by which the
antler hung。
It was Rolf's first important trailing on the ground； it showed
how possible it was； and how quickly he was learning the hardest
of all the feats of woodcraft。
Chapter 49。 Rolf Gets Lost