Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-01-07


taking pretty deliberate aim 81 want crack
at him myself.''
| banged away from the bow, and had the
satisfaction of hearing my ball strike the water
about yard to the right of the deer, for which
/ very religiously swore at the wabbling of the
canoe. Three other shots were fired with no
better success, for we were then in the shade
of the mountain and its dense pine trees. and
such thing getting sight was out of the
question.
"Drop your rifles and use your paddles,' -
said Dill, impatiently. s.We must overhaul
that fellow on the rifles yonder, or we'll lose
game within ten miles,
To the paddles we betool. ourselves in good
earnest, and when the deer was within rod of
the rifle we were not two rods behind him.
''Stand clear and give me a chance at the
bow there,' shouted Dill, and with two strides
he had passed TO the front, and with his hunt
ing knife in his teeth, sprung upon the setting
pole with increased vigor.
AS the buck struck the rocks that here filed
the bed of the stream in broken masses, he be-
gan to plunge and snort as before, and stumb-
was evidently bleeding profusely.
''Now, altogether - shouted the bcrculean
hunter, and as we all sprung to our propellers,
the canoe was run upon a rock beside the prey,
and tipped upon the side. Ny first idea was
to keep my rifle and powder dry, but Dill
sprung into the water and grappled with the
buck just as he was rising from his fall.
Did you ever see wounded buck at bay p
If you have not, can tell you that he is not
the pleasantcst customer in the world to play
with. The old wood monarch saw the approach
Of the hunter and, as the latter came within
fighting distance, turned his fiery eye-bals
upon him, and made desperate plunge. The
hunter sprang to one side, and would have
cleared the ANIMAL but the rocks were slippe-
ry, and n ms-step sent him rolling into the
water beneath the stag's feet. The noble
buck raised both fore feet, and struck the hum
ter a violent blow in the shoulders, and he was
in fair way TO demolsh him if Brooks had
not rushed to the assistance of his comrade.-
y smart blow with the butt of his rife caused
the deer to turn his attention to Brooks, which
gave Dill chance to recover.
"Kcep him there shouted Dill, blowing
the wafer out Of his mouth, and in an instant
he was again on his feet. The deer made
plunge at Brooks. and fell upon his knees.
SHOWS your time - cried Brooks scout
his confounded throat.'
Dill did not want prompting. Quick as
thought he sprung upon the bnck, seized him
by one Of the antlers, and plunged his hunting
knife hilt deep into The neck of his victim
The buck bounded to his feet, reared high into
the air, and fell dead at the feet of the badly
bruised hunter. Dill looked at the conquered
animal an instant, and then quietly remarked.
"Pretty snug fight, call that--lets have
some liquor" and he took pull at the jug
with the utmost compacency.
The canoe was once more got into deep wa
ter, the deer put in tow, aud, after jolly health
all round to Dill, we resumed our voyage to
the lick.
1t was after ten o'clock before we were fair
l. cnscOnsed behind the murderous ssblnd''
at the salt lick. For over an hour we waited
without hearing any thing but the screaming
Of wolves and catamounts, who scented us,
but were too cowardly to attack. Several
times Dill called our attention to the cracking
times the sound seemed to approach, and again
they would rcccde.
ga bar arter our venson,' said DILL
"Wherc did you hang it, Brooks 20
"On that beach, thar, in front of the blind.
Thar amt no bar anxious to come thar for it
| rather guess.''
"Hist there" said Dill, ga little fellow,
take it but it's deer surc''
Sure enough, the next minute we heard the
splashing of foot steps in the mud around the
lick.
"Give me chance, now, Dill" said L.
.'You have won your bet, and must have
chance for minc.''
"Agreed," said Dill ''but wait mint
thar'l DO more OF 'em fore long, and maybe
III get crack at that bar along with you.''
The bear had been creeping up nearer and
nearer, and was evidently bent in stealing the
dead buck.
In short time two other deer came down to
the lick, and began to grow impatient.
''Let's shoot, Dill, those fellows won't stay
there all night"
"Wait till l strike light" said the hunter.
"Now, are you both ready 3''
Ireplied in the affirmative, and Dill, having
crcpt out of the blind, lighted some tarred
oallum, which blazed up, and gave us good
sight of the deer, who gazed upon the sudden
light with astonishmcnt.
Sire you fool" growled Dill, and two
rifles answered the order.
IT. 61l ,yos raconnoitrnd and ono ,.o,,c