These animals, regarded as so invaluable in a new country, each had its owner's mark, and ranged the woods, fattening upon acorns and other nuts.

Nothing was easier than for a lazy man to wander into the woods, shoot one of these animals, take it to his cabin, devour it there, and obliterate all possible traces of the deed.

Thus a large and valuable herd would gradually disappear.

This crime was consequently deemed to merit the most severe punishment.

It was regarded as so disgraceful that no respectable man was liable to suspicion.
The punishment for the crime was very severe, and very summary.