bush and brake, as if there was not a bone in his body,

and without the slightest noise. This sort of work was

so much against his plunging nature that he took long

to learn it; but when, through hard practice and the loss

of many a fine deer, he came at length to break himself

in to it, he gradually progressed to perfection, and

ultimately became the best stalker in the valley. This,

and this alone, enabled him to procure game, for, being

short-sighted, he could hit nothing beyond fifty yards,

except a buffalo or a barn-door.