scaffold casting a shadow immediately below the fire, it is impossible to be seen; the brightness of the fire dazzling the eyes to such an extent as entirely to shroud any object under the scaffold in total obscurity. Our next work is to procure light-wood, as pine knots in this country are termed; and I must confess, there is no scarcity of them, for one cannot hunt a mile or two on foot, without the gratification of breaking one's shins a dozen times (more or less, always.) Well, having split our knots, and all things ready for the night, I take my seat under the scaffold. K. proceeds to a lick about a quarter of a mile higher up the branch, and there climbs a tree, the better to prevent the deer from smelling him, as the elevation throws the scent above them. By the time we got all things quiet, he with his rifle, I with my manton, it was probably five o'clock, but a short time elapsed before pop goes K's. rifle. I, all expectation, straining my ears to catch the least sound that would betoken the approach of a deer, pop goes K. again. Well, thinks I, this is fine sport, but all on one side. Well, I had not long to wait, before up stalks a fine doe, arousing me from my silent meditations, with its large dark eyes looking directly in the direction of the scaffold as intently watching it, being concealed by the bushes, but not so entirely as to prevent my least movement from putting the deer to flight. Before I could get a shot in the situation in which I was placed, we continued in this position until I could perceive by the movement of her nasal organ, an intimation that she had got wind of me, and that all ceremony between us must cease. Up comes my manton as quick as thought; but instead of a good hearty cheering report, what was my disappointment to hear the insignificant report of one cap and then the other. Thanks to K. for persuading me off without the precaution of cleaning my gun, to come here to pop caps at deer, like some school boy with toy gun popping at horse flies. Well, better luck next time; and off I post to the camp, renew caps, fire off one barrel, reload, feed horses, and back to the lick. By this time K. had arrived with intelligence of having killed two deer, a buck and doe. It being nearly dark, we proceeded to kindle our fire on the top of the scaffold, and took our seats, re

maining perfectly quiet, with the exception of occasionally reple nishing our fire; it glared brightly like a spark in the surround gloom, causing the most total darkness, immediateyoubt this range of light, to the occupier of the scaffold. I suppose it was near ten o'clock when we were relieved from our watch by a large doe stalking out of the gloom, and immediately commenced licking with but little ceremony or caution; and with still less I bring her down. It proved to be a barren doe; we drag it off some distance, remove the entrails and take our seats; probably three quarters of an hour elapsed, when in steps a tremendous buck, with his velvet horns showing distinctly, his eyes having the appearance of two stars, evincing more caution than I ever since have known one, owing to his being old and cautious. At the crack of my gun he falls, rises and falls again-K. and I are at his side, we seize his hind legs, and drag him to the scaffold -he all the while offering no resistance, K. observes I had better cut his throat, as apparently he was only sullen; no sooner said than my Couteau de Chasse penetrates his neck, and in less time than it takes to narrate it, to our utter astonishment he is up and away, scattering the blood in every direction. In an instant we are after him with, not exactly fire and sword, but torch and knife, expecting him to drop every instant, but in that I was mistaken. However, I followed him for some distance, at one time getting sufficiently near to make a thrust. Doing but little execution, we concluded to return to the lick, being sanguine of finding him in the morning by the blood.

"Having consumed considerable time in our fruitless chase, and set the deer a whistling in several directions, we at length succeeded in getting back to the lick-remaining two hours or more, without seeing any, (occasioned by the rumpus we had kicked up,) when in steps a second buck to get his quietus, that I gave him with K's. rifle. We had scarcely taken our seats and got quiet when in walks three; our light at the time being dim, I could not make out the gender, but judge them to be a doe and two yearlings; I raised K.'s rifle, but only to lower it for my pains, as there was not sufficient light to see the sights, -having still one load remaining in my shot-gun that had previously failed to fire, I concluded to try it again, but no go; cap

exploded, at the report of which one made a bound or two, stopped, then returned and commenced licking; had my gun fired, I should have been good for two, as they locked. They remained licking, judging most probably that it was the fire crackling. K. thinking he could replenish the fire, as the rifle was our only chance, he succeeded in getting one piece of pine up, and in placing the second threw down the first! Farewell, farewell to Araby's daughter, children and all, would have been a very appropriate song about that time. We remained until daylight without seeing any more; we then visited the camp, and after partaking of a slight repast, off we start to look up our buck, which we succeeded in getting, but not before I gave him another shot; he had proceeded but a short distance on our leaving him on the previous night before he fell down-we heard him cough, you know what followed. On examination, I found I had severed the windpipe without cutting an artery, which occasioned him to cough to clear away the blood that ran in his windpipe during the process of respiration. We soon had our venison (hams and skins only) on our horses, returned home, and soon lost in dreams all thoughts of our first fire hunt.

"I shall conclude this already too long communication by stating, that in five nights' hunting we succeeded in killing twenty-two deer that we had the benefit of, besides several others that we were not able to get, owing to their running a considerable distance after being shot."

ELK HUNTING.

THE following description of a hunt for an immense Elk, in Louisiana, is from the pen of H. S. D., a correspondent of the New Orleans "Tropic." In Mr. Sibley's article on "Buffalo Hunting," the best mode of getting a shot at them is set forth at length.

"I have just got through one of the most exciting hunts that

has taken place in the South for years, which terminated in the death of a sure-enough Elk, and one of immense size! On Thursday last I was still hunting for deer, with rifle in hand, between Roundaway Bayou and the river, somewhat in the direction of Vicksburg from my house, and about three miles in a straight line from the residence of Mrs. Carrell, when a crash among the limbs and the footsteps of some heavy beast startled me. I soon found that, whatever it might be, it had not seen me, but had bounded off from the noise I had made. I stole gently on in pursuit, and came in view of the immense animal, with horns that seemed to stand among the highest limbs! Their full height I shoud not have been able to trace, but for his tossing them hither and thither, as he ranged his eye around in quest of the noise my horse had made in coming up. My over anxiety to get a deadly shot lost me that opportunity. He detected my slightest movement in placing my rifle where it could send its ball free of limbs, and off he bounded! Heavens and earth! what is the matter? I stood in amazement and listened to what you would have supposed a 'young hurricane!' The crashing of limbs, severing the vines, and bending to and fro of young saplings, as they would rise from beneath the weight of this monster of the woods, gave me an unerring indication of the route he was pursuing. On, on he went, I in pursuit on foot, following, without difficulty, his heavy footprints, and broken limbs and barked trees. In the meantime I sent Mr. Harvey back for dogs and men, to kill, I yet scarce knew what! While he was gone I

continued the chase, and time after time he would allow me to get within fifty or one hundred yards of him, when off he would bound again with the speed of the wind, always, however, selecting a tangled or thick place where he could pause, secrete himself, and take his observations! I concluded this was instinct or wonderful sagacity; for in stopping he always wheeled off at a right angle, and took his position in some almost impenetrable thicket; and here, where eye could not see nor ear hear, until his thundering feet would again dash clattering through the swamp.

After an absence of some time, Mr. Harvey returned without assistance, no one believing that I had seen any thing but a large

1

buck. At this stage of the proceeding, I found that my only chance was to worry him until night, when he would be so much fatigued, that he would gladly rest for the night, and in the morning I could renew the chase with dogs. With this view I hurried on until dark, when I left him ensconced in the cane and palmetto of Walnut Bayou, opposite Mrs. Carrell's. The next morning, with my arrangements all made, I was on the ground. by light, with three of my neighbours. Dr. Pollard, F. Surget, F. L. King, W. Harvey and myself, now composed the party. Very soon my old dog Preston opened violently, and so different from his usual note, that I felt assured he was on the elk's track! I loosed him, and on he went in beautiful pursuit, the only dog that then touched the track! The elk was soon up, and my old dog's single voice close at his heels. The rest cannot be described! Gun after gun was fired in rapid succession, until my old dog got him at bay, and all the excitement of worrying this extraordinary animal to death, was ours in less than half an hour. In short we killed him. Harvey having the first shot, King the second, and myself the third and last, as he fell from his loftiest bound at the crack of my faithful deer-gun,' old Ailsey.' Hurra for America! Hurra for Louisiana! Hurra for Preston !' Hurra for old Ailsey! Hurra! Hurra!! With hats high in the air, thus closed the scene over the last gasps of this noble animal.

"I annex the weight and dimensions of this mighty beast, from which you can better realise the truth of what I have faintly described.

"His colour is a dirty brownish drab, with long hair, and a

deeper brown about the neck.

H. S. D."