Chapter 42. Skookum's Panther
"Why are there so few deer tracks now?"
"Deer yarded for winter," replied the Indian; no travel in deep snow."
"We'll soon need another," said Rolf, which unfortunately was
true. They could have killed many deer in early winter, when the
venison was in fine condition, but they had no place to store it.
Now they must get it as they could, and of course it was thinner
and poorer every week.
They were on a high hill some days later. There was a clear view
and they noticed several ravens circling and swooping.
"Maybe dead deer; maybe deer yard," said the Indian.
It was over a thick, sheltered, and extensive cedar swamp near
the woods where last year they had seen so many deer, and they
were not surprised to find deer tracks in numbers, as soon as
they got into its dense thicket.
A deer yard is commonly supposed to be a place in which the deer
have a daily "bee" at road work all winter long and deliberately
keep the snow hammered down so they can run on a hard surface
everywhere within its limits. The fact is, the deer gather in a
place where there is plenty of food and good shelter.
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