CHAPTER XIV.

MY FIRST SHOT AT A BUCK. -- HUNTING AND SHOOTING PARTIES. --
DESTRUCTIVENESS OF WOLVES. -- LOSS OF MY FLOCKS. -- COWARDICE OF THE
WOLF. -- THE LADY AND HER PET. -- COLONEL CRAWFORD'S ADVENTURE. --
INGENIOUS TRICK OF AN AMERICAN TRAPPER. -- A DISAGREEABLE ADVENTURE. --
HOW TO POISON WOLVES. -- A STERN CHASE.

MY father-in-law had a large field of fall wheat, upon which, during
the night, the deer were very fond of grazing. Just before dark, the
herd used to make their appearance, and we tried repeatedly to get a
shot at them, but in vain. At the least noise, or if they winded us, up
went their tails, and they were off in an instant. I was determined,
however, not to be so continually balked. I had observed, by the
tracks, the direction they took in their way to the field; so, an hour
before their usual time of coming, I sallied out, and concealed myself
in the top of an old fallen tree which lay a few feet from the ground,
and about twenty yards from a path which I suspected had been beaten by
the deer, going backwards and forwards to the field.

The place I had selected to watch for them was an old settlement duty-
road, which had been cut out some years before, but was now partially
grown up again with a second growth of timber and underbrush. Having
seated myself very snugly, I took out of my pocket a volume of
Shakespeare to pass away the time. I had not been half-an-hour so
employed, before my attention was suddenly aroused by hearing a stick
break near me, when upon looking up I beheld the head and horns of a
large buck projecting from behind a thicket of trees. He appeared to be
in a listening attitude, so I durst not stir till he should have
lowered his head, as I knew the least movement then would make him