Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Democratic Review.
THE SHOT IN THE EYE.
.a.---I i -. 1 NIL. \


One dav we had all turned out for a deer-drive
This hunt, in which the dogs are used for driving
the game out of the timber, scatters the hunters
very much; they are stationed at the different
Stands which are sometimes miles apart, to watch
for the deer passing out; for this the party
seldom gets together again until night. We divi-
ded in the morning. and skrted up opposite sides
of a wide belt of bottom timber, while the drivers
and dogs penetrated it to rouse the DEER which ran
out on either side by the stands, and were known
to the hunters. We were unusually successful
and returned to late dinner at our hosts, the plan
ter's house. By dusk all had come in, except my
friend, whose name was Henry, and a man named
Stoner, one of the neighbors, who had joined our
hunt. Dinner was ready and we sat down to it,
supposing they would be in, in few moments
The meal nearly over, when Henry, who was
a cav. vouble fellow, came busting into the room
and with slightly furried manner addressed our
hosts Squire this is a strange country OF yours
Do you let crazy people range it with guns in their
hands p
Not when we know it. Why? What about
crazy people? You look excited
sWell, | think I've had enough to make ne feel
q little curious
what is it? What is it " exclaimed every bo-
dy eagerly
sWhy, have met with either the old Harry him
self-a ghost or a mailman = and which it is / am
confoundedly puzzled to tell
where? How?
He threw himself into chair, wiped the per-
spiration from his forehead and continued-' You
know, Stoner and myself when we parted from you
all this morning, took up the right hand side of the
bottom timber. Well, Stoner accompanied me to
my stand where we parted; he to go on to his
and have seen nothing Of him since. Soon after
he left me, deer passed out shot it-wounded
it-and jumped on my horse to pursue it. The
deer had staggered at my fire, but was not so bad
ly wounded as | supposed, and led me off until /,
I Al. -
| reigned up but soon found that tins sober Sec
ond thought had come too late, and that was al
ready out of my latitude. ! wandered about near
" all day, though taking care not to go very far II
any one direction, before | came across anything
which promised to set me right again. / at las
came upon wagon trail, and felt revived, for
knew it must take me to some point where coult
get information. The trail was narrow, leading
through scrubby thickets; and was riding alon!
slowly, looking down, in the hope OF meeting thu
tracks Of some of your horses, when the vioen
shying of my horse caused me TO raise my eyes
And, by George it was enough to have 'stampe
ded regiment of horse! On the left OF the tran
stood a very tall, skeleton-like figure, dressed Il
skins; one foot advanced, as if he had stopped i
the act of stepping across it, and long heavy CUR
Just swinging down to the level, bearing on me-
OF course my heart leaped into my throat, and m
flesh shrunk and crept. Before | could think {
raising my gun, my eyes met those OF this strang
figure; and such eyes! Surprise at their cold, un
natural expression, suspended my action; burnin
with a chill, singular brillioncy, in deep-sunke
sockets they looked as if they never winked.-
Dwelling steadily upon my face for moment, the
seemed to be satisfied, and the gun was sowl
thrown back upon his shoulders; and pluckiDg q
a long grisly beard, with impatient gesture {
his bony hands, the figure made a stride across th
trail, and without speaking word plunged int
the thicket. | was so COMPOUNDED by this curiou
dumb-show, that he was nearly concealed in tn
brush before | found my tongue to shout to him t
stop; but he kept on, not even turning his head
] was provoked and spured my horse in after hin
as far as | could penetrate, but he kept On, and
lost sight Of him in moment, and whether h
can talk at all, is more than can tell'
Did you look at his feet Henry" intenupte
one Of the party. Il expect it was Old
'Never mind what you expect, hear me OUT h
continued. Il followed the trail, which wound
bout it seemed to me- towards all the points of tn
compass for an hour or more when at last it lie
me out into prairie, which thought | recognize,
! stopped, and was looking around to make out til
landmarks, when horse with saddle on buri