Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-01-08
watching their movements.

But to the hunt Early in the moi
ming, on Thursday, we started on our
hunt, accompanied by J. O., his uncle
and COUSIN. A drive thro' the brush
was effected, but without success. We
met at the lun called Jenkins run, and
hanked out to the top Of Paddy-Sil-
versights on the left, and Capt. Ralph
on the extreme right. The owl signal
passed the line, and scarcely had the
parties started, VIXEN up jumped very
large buck near j. o., who fired as the
deer was in the act of eloping, and a
way he went towards Sureshots. Sure
shots fires, and down falls the buck,
plunging against the rocks, and as was
supposed at the time, breaking of one
horn. Lefisights, Sureshots and J. O.
dress and hang up the deer, and the
party move for their respective places,
when J. O. discovers that he had woun-
ded the deer, and that Sureshots had on
ly hit his horn, which no doubt knock
ed him down. The hunt continues
with little of interest, until some of the
party reach the Bear Spur, and Capt.
Ralph at the crossing, four point buck
runs up to him, and with great deal
of difficulty he stops him, but so bid
by the trees as that nothing but his
shoulder and leg is exposed, and that
thro' a small opening betweentwo trees.
Bang goes Capt. Ralph's gun, and in
stantly he discovers that the leg was
broken, and Take him Watch Take
him Watch followed in quick success
sion. The dog, for that was his name,
sprung forward, and after a beautiful
chase of some two hundred yards, the
dog stops him, but was worried by the
buck so much as TO induce him to
catch at the hams. All hunters dislike
the hams to be injured, but under the
circumstances, no blame was attached
to this faithful dog. And as this is
Watch's first introduction, will state,
that Capt. Ralph might shoot twenty
times, and the deer in sight all the time,
and until bid, the dog would not move
an inch-such has been his training.
B few more deer were seen, but moth
ing done. All the while that these
scenes were transpiring near the top of
Paddy, Silversights was watching the
crossings at the foot of the mountain,
and was directly under the Bear Spur,
when Leftslghts comes down and com
municates the intelligence Of the killing
of the first buck. The two hunt along
the mountain, stopping at the crossings,
and appoint to meet at the Grindstone
Quarry. After an Intellectual hunt, they
meet, and there find Doubleshots, who
had rather played truant, until he heard
the shoots and the yelping of Captain
Ralph's dog. The three returned to
camp, and shortly afterwards Sureshots
announces that J. 0. and cousin were
bringing the big buck to camp, and
wanted help, which we afforded-sta-
ting, too, that Capt. Ralph and L. 0.
sen. were carrying the other buck, and
would soon be in. We returned, hung
up the first, and started to aid Capt.
Ralph, and before night both bucks
We're hung up in front of the camp
Of course there We're many congratnla-
tions; the particulars recounted again
and again; the chat enliyened; for
Capt Ralph would summon up his
company TO take little oil Of plum, to
make talk come. Supper is announced,
and Capt. Ralph and J. 0. are placed
at the head and foot of the table, as an
honorable distinction--they being the
first to kill deer. We have already
spoken of the delicaeies of our table,
and on this occasion our hostess added
cold slaugh and beet pickles to the nu-
merous other dishes. To see COM
pany of hunters eat would certainly do
a convaleseent good-the relish with
which they swallow their food would
almost whet the appetite of foundered
man. We cracked jokes, heard sever
al-of Capt. Ralph's best songs, shot
mark by plrelight, drove the centre fire.
quently, and retired to rest, determined,
if possible, to better this days hunt.