There was nothing particularly worthy of mention
that took place on the flank I held, for the first two hours; unless
indeed the fact, that three several times did I fall upon a maze of
well-beaten deer-tracks, that as often led to nothing----"
"These are signs common to the woods, and they are no more than so many
proofs that the animal has its sports, like any other playful creature,
when not pressed by hunger or by danger," quietly observed Content.
"I pretend not to take those deceitful tracks much into the account,"
resumed Dudley; "but shortly after losing the sound of the conchs, I
roused a noble buck from his lair beneath a thicket of hemlocks, and
having the game in view, the chase led me wide-off towards the wilderness,
it may have been the distance of two leagues."
"And in all that time, had you no fitting moment to strike the beast?"
"None whatever; nor, if opportunity had been given, am I bold to say that
hand of mine would have been hardy enough to aim at its life."
"Was there aught in the deer, that a hunter should seek to spare it?"
"There was that in the deer, that might bring a Christian man to much
serious reflection.
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