Here he stood and watched for a full
minute. Again he tried the wind, and proceeded to circle slowly
to the west of the place.
After a long, tense crawl of twenty yards he came on the track
and sign of a big buck, perfectly fresh, and again his heart
worked harder; it seemed to be pumping his neck full of blood, so
he was choking. He judged it best to follow this hot trail for a
time, and holding his gun ready cocked he stepped softly onward.
A bluejay cried out, "jay, jay!" with startling loudness, and
seemingly enjoyed his pent-up excitement. A few steps forward at
slow, careful stalk, and then behind him he heard a loud
whistling hiss. Instantly turning he found himself face to face
with a great, splendid buck in the short blue coat. There not
thirty yards away he stood, the creature he had been stalking so
long, in plain view now, broadside on. They gazed each at the
other, perfectly still for a few seconds, then Rolf without undue
movement brought the gun to bear, and still the buck stood
gazing. The gun was up, but oh, how disgustingly it wabbled and
shook! and the steadier Rolf tried to bold it, the more it
trembled, until from that wretched gun the palsy spread all over
his body; his breath came tremulously, his legs and arms were
shaking, and at last, as the deer moved its head to get a better
view and raised its tail, the lad, making an effort at
selfcontrol, pulled the trigger.
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