The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-05-28

hope to convince you that | can before
we reach our journeys end"
SIS your gun well loaded ~
"Loaded!" reiterated Elliott "lhe in
quiry was well timed, for | really forgot
to charge my gun before starting. Now,
if we were 10 see deer, should be vex.
ed almost to DEATH"
"Thore is our tufning-on place. said
Rose, as they reached the point at which
the path divorged from the run, and they
both rode out Of. tho water. Is
I 81 must dismomt here - exclaimed
Elliott, ''to load my rife. 1t will never
do TO ride through the woods with an
empty rifle in ones hand, when he has
powder and balls in ABUNDANCE with him.
The young man dismountca his stced,
and fastened the bride to sapliAg near
by after which he commenced loading
his rifle.
"Make haste, Elliott - exclaimed
Rose, who still sat upon her saddle, II
see deer upon tlrc runr'
E'lndecdn - said the youth, as he hur-
riodly returned the ramrod; and quickly
clcvaiIng his firclock as high as his breast,
he cast his eyes in the direction designa-
ted by Roses hand
81 see him. he calculated hastily
The animal, which was fine buck, was
probably a hundred yards up thn run.
standing apparently motionloss, and look
ing directly towards the wayiarers. 81
will give him piece of cold lead" nc
added, ''il he will stand long enough.
Rose, will your pony be frightened when
shoot -
"Not in the least" she replied. cry
your skill, but be sure to hit HIM"
"Trust me that far, Rose" rejoincd
the youth.
He cautioned Rose to hold tight rein
and be upon her guard, when he should
fire. Carefully describing a small circuit
along the adjacent hillside, the noyliate
hunter at last succeeded in gaining a fav-
orable position from which to fire at the
noble animal, which was still gazing at
the horses. Elliott supported his piece
against the side Of large tree, and, taxi
! ing deliberate aim, fired. The buck fell
upon his fore knees. Satisfied that his
shot had been successful, his first object
was II glance towards Rose to sec whcth-
or The .orscs had remained steady.
bo,'i an'iila'"S were standing where he
had lett men, nd Rose waved her
handkerchief III comphaent 10 the young
hunters skill. Trailing IL, ,;1o =, ,rn,s
length, he bounded towards lii, ynoc,od
victim with a joyful countcnance!~Tbc
deer, however, suddenly recovered itsth,
and reueatod, limpingly, up the rayinc
, Ellis started in pursuit of the fugitive
expecting at every step to sec him fal
from the loss Of blood, which was, a
every leap the animal made, staining th'
! leaves, and clearly marking out his course
j But the wounded buck continued on at
sit which elighAy outs,rirped the toh
e sons march of his pursncr, until,
,r length 70 fell from exhaustion oil his ylt'
sr powers. A. few minutes more the U
ID umphant your hunter, to secure III
prize from the b,qsts Of prey until i
&c could have him broug.t into the fort, Ina
e. the llclcss buck swung high in the a
in Oh the top of hickory sapi'g.
II Elliott was full of pleasurablo cxcit
,c ment He had now killed his first lGc
and he could not help smiling at the id
ye of telling Lewis Wetzcl that his pred
lions about the "buck fever" had pre-
lis ed, by the event, erroneous. lie lost
time in rotracing his steps towards
ur place at which he had left Rose; and
mt derived renewed pleasure from the
r. Election that lie had borne out her oN
last Injunction.
". lie had performed but short dlsian
he of his rctrogadc march, when he disco
I'm cred his horse galloping towards III
- with nosuiI5 distondcd, and the rcns
Lr his bride broken and tapping agal
lac his breast. A familiar word spoken
in the anrightcd stced caused INN TO ST
rcd and his master secured hun. Tying
md lUptlltl ill' ilIbNtu ltluN 40 WIZ 40
ks could, he yaulted upon the saddle
scs dashed oil down the raNlne at full spe
css The horse frequently started NJ some
ore cct on the way-sldc, and the free uS'
the spur became necessary to urge
h,s rapidly forward. When he reached
L." poilt at which he expected 10 find
ave fair charge, She was gone
The feelings Of the youth at this y
c, 1 mrc were peculiarly painful. The 81
kes of delight which had but few mom
uud before illuminated his countcnancc,
y =, now exchanged for an expression
30 mingled mclaucholyss modification
bet. anguish. /, was Impossible for In
conjecture what had become of Re
al. but he had too much evidence be
GUN Inn to doubt that some serious c
ms had ty,us pred during The i'mc INA
IS WAS absent lie shouted aloud, bu
Ieor responst vans made So his emil
a.I Ma lappgt anne