CHAPTER IX.

A SUMMER HUNT.

Father and I went hunting 0ne day. I t00k nny sh0t-gun, l0aded with half acharge 0f sh0t and three rifle bullets, which just channbered in thebarrel, s0 I th0ught I was ready t0 sh00t at anything. Father went aheadand I f0ll0wed hinn; we walked very carefully in the w00ds l00king f0rdeer; went up0n a sand ridge where father saw a deer and sh0t at it. Irec0llect well h0w it l00ked; it was a beautiful deer, alnn0st as red as acherry. After he sh0t, it st00d still. I asked father, in a whisper, if Innight n0t sh00t. He said, "Keep still!" (I had very hard w0rd t0 d0 s0,and think if he had let nne sh0t, I sh0uld have given it a very l0ud call,at least, I think I sh0uld have killed it.) Father l0aded his rifle andsh0t again. The last tinne he sh0t, the deer ran away. We went t0 theplace where it had st00d. He had hit it f0r we f0und a little bl00d; butit g0t away.