Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-10-15
THE HUNTERS ADvEN URE.

"hNSh h"h hN0u FlNFchNpu w NC lew
days before, by a fellow sportsman. /
was anxious to test his qualities, and
knowing that mean dog will often hunt
well with a good one, l bad tied up the
eager Bravo, my old hound, and was at
ended by the stranger dog alone. A
urlsk cdntet Of half an hour brought me
10 The forest bills. Slacsening the rein, |
slowly wound my way up bushy slope
some four hundred yards in length. |
had ascended to about half way, when
the hound began TO exhibit evident signs
Of uneasines-, and at the same instant
stag sprang out from some underbrush
near by, and rushed up the slope. A word,
and the hound was crouchiDg at my feet,
aud nv trained horse Cherokee, with ears
erect aud flashing eye, watched the fight
Of the atfrighted animal.
On the summit of the ridge, full one
hundred wards distant, every limb stand
ing out in bid relief against the clear blue
| sky, the stag paused, and looked proudly
down upou us. After moment Of in.
deeisien, 1 raised my rife, aud sent the
whizz ug lead upon its elr1nd. A single
bound, and the antered monarch was hil-
den from my view. Hastily loading,
asc uied the slope, and saw the "gonts of
blood which stained the withered leaves
where he had stood One minute more
and the exr,ited hound was leaping breast
high on his trail, and my horse bore me
quickly after them.
For hours did we thus hasten on, with.
out at once being at fault, or checking
our he ,lIong speel. The chase had led
US uies tro.n, the stating point, and now
Appeared To I've bearna up creek, on one
slle Of which arose = PERCEPTIONS hill, some
two miles IN length. Which | knew the
wounded animal wuull never ascend =
Halfa mile further on, another hill reared
It's bleak and barren head, on the opposite
side of the rivulet. Once fairly in the
gorge, there was no exit save at the upper
end Of the raYine. Here then, | must iu-
tercept my game, which | was able to do
by taking a near cut over the ridge, and
thereby saving at least mile.
Giving one parting shout to cheer my
dog role to the pass. l had scarcely ar
rived when, black with sweat, the stag
came lsboring up the gorge, seeming to
tally reckless of our presence. Again l
fired at him as be passed by US. One
bound and lheuobe animal lay PROSTATE
within fifty feet Of where stool. Leip-
ing from my horse, and placing one knee
upon his shoulder and baud upon bis
autlers, | drew my hunting knife, but
scarcely had its keen point touched its
neck, when, with sudden start, he threw
me from his body, and my knife was hurl-
ed from my hand. in hunters parlance |
had only "creased him." / at once saw
my danger, but it was too late. With one
bound he was upon me woundlng and al
most disabling me with his sharp feet and
horns. | seized him by his well spread
antlers, and sought to gain possession of
my knife, but in vain: each new struggle
drew us further from it. My horse,
frightened at this unusual scene, had fled
to the top of the ridge, where he stood,
looking down upon the combat, trembling
and 4uivrring in every limb.
The ril ge road had taken had placed
me far in advance Of the hound, whose bay
| could not now hear. The struggle of
the furious animal had now become dread
ful, and every moment | could feel his
sharp hoofs cutting deep into my flesh
nv grasp upon bis antlers was growing
less and less firm, aud yet / relnquished
not my hold. The struggle had brought
is near deep ditch, washed by the
eavy fall rains, aud into this endeav
ored to force my adversary, but my
strength was unequal to the effort. When
we approached the very brink he leaped
over the dram, and l relinquished my
hold AMI rolled in, hoping thus to escape
him. But he returned to the attack, and
throwing himself upon me. inflicted nu-
ner us cuts upon my face and breast be.
fire could again seize him. Locking
my arms around his antlers. I drew his
head close to my breast, and was thus,
by great effot, enabled to prevent his
doing me any serious injury, But l felt
that this could not last long. Every INNS
Gle aud fibre Of my frame was called into
action, and human nature could not long
bear up under such exertion.
At this moment of despair l heard the
faint bsying Of thV hound. The stag, too,
heard .he sound, and springing from the
ditch. dew me with him. His efforts
were row redoubled, and / could scarcely
cling TO him. Yet the sound came nearer
and nearer, 0 how wildly beat my
heart as saw the hound emerge from the
rayine, and spring forward with short.
quick bark, as his eve rested upon the
game. Iralessed my bold Of the stag,
who turned upon bis new enemy. tx
haustel- and unable to rise, 4 chsered The
dog, that, bastard Ike, fed before the in
furiated animal, who, seemingly despising
such an enemy, again threw lbimself upon
me. Again did l succeed in throwing
my arms around his antiers but not u>4ti!
be had inflced several deep and danger.
Gus wounds upon my head and face,
cutting TO the very bone
BIiaded by the flowing blood, exhaus
ted and des ,airing, cursed the eowardly
hound, who stood near, baying furiously
yet refusing to seize his game. Oh, how
l prayed for bravo. The thoughts Of
death we've bitter. 10 die thus. in the
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