# The Chase explained — Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp

> Chapter companion for Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp by John A. Lomax.

## What happens

A man tracks a woman through the snow, interpreting her footprints and flight as a playful invitation rather than fear, culminating in her waiting for him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Romance

The narrator's pursuit of the maid is driven by romantic desire, interpreting her flight as a flirtatious invitation.

### Nature and the Landscape

The snow-covered landscape serves as both a setting and a medium for tracking, with footprints revealing the maid's path.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The pursuer who follows the moccasin tracks in the snow, interpreting the maid's flight as a romantic game.

### Pocock

Attributed as the source of the poem 'Curley' from which the excerpt is taken.

## Key lines

> Here’s a moccasin track in the drifts, It’s no more than the length of my hand; An’ her instep⁠—just see how it lifts! If that ain’t the best in the land!

I see a moccasin print in the snow, small and delicate, with a high instep—the most beautiful foot in the country.

_The narrator marvels at the small footprint, using it as evidence of the maid's grace and beauty._

> Did she run? ’Twas a sign to make haste. An’ why bless her! I’m sure she won’t mind. If she’s got any kisses to waste, Why, she knew that a man was behind.

Her running was a signal for me to hurry, and I'm certain she won't object—if she has kisses to spare, she knew I would follow.

_The narrator reassures himself that the maid's flight is an invitation, not a rejection._

> There she is! An’ I knew she was near. Will she pay me a kiss to be free? Will she hate? Will she love? Will she fear? Why, the darling! She’s waiting to see!

There she is! I knew she was close. Will she give me a kiss to escape? Will she hate, love, or fear me? Oh, the dear! She's waiting to see what happens!

_The narrator spots the maid and realizes she is waiting, confirming his interpretation of the chase as a romantic game._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se/chapters/the-chase
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/songs_of_the_cattle_trail_and_cow_camp_se/chapters