Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-12-18
NJ | S c E L L A N Y.
A DEER ADVENTURE.

Mn. F.pIroR:-Some day last week a deer
was seen running in our streets, creating great
excitement among the dogs. and amusement for
a while to various groups OF Young America.
The deer, as any one acquainted with the nature
of the beast would have anticipated, grew vim
dictiye, made q battering ram of himself and
with a single blow overthrow boy of thirteen,
making with his antlers destructive work with
the lads neither integuments. The boy was
rather stout for his years, and getting hold of
the horns of his assailant prevented another
blow, until an Irshman seized him by the hind
leg and drew him off from the boy. The deer
is said to have taken some improper liberties
with ladies dress.
1t may be worth while to say to those unac-
quainted with the habits of the deer, that he is
an extremely dangerous animal Mt certain sea-
sons His attack is so rapid, his fore feet sharp
as chisels, his horns very effective weapons of
offence. His hard head can stand vast amount
of pounding, as if he had no feeling in it. A
boy of my acquaintance met in the woods doe
with young fawn, she darted at him like an
arrow and came near striking out both his eyes.
As it was, her small, sharp fore feet took off
the skin from just below his eyes down both
cheeks.
A friend Of mine, who lives on the borders of
John Browns Tract, in northern New York,
went into the woods one summer afternoon to
inspect some wild land he had no gun or weop-
on except small pen-knife, which is not very
effective means of defence He came suddenly
upon an old buck. Knowing the character OF
the animal, Mr.. l.. thought he looked mischie-
vous and turned to retreat, under the general
principle that discretion is the better part of
valor. But the buck had no intention TO let
him off so. lie had hardly taken a step before
the deer struck him, knocked him fiat, and then
retreated couple of rods for another charge.
No sooner had Mr.. J.. picked himself up than
the buck made another rush. striking his knees
with benumbing force. This manGuyre he re-
peated several times until l.. walked like man
with particularly virulent attack of the gout in
both legs At last he succeeded in taking his
enemy by the horns, and being very muscular
man, and heavy withal, he jammed his nose in
to the ground with all his force. Kick him he
could not owing to the disabled state of his legs,
although he felt quite disposed to do so. He
tried to smother him by driving bis muzzle into
the ground, but with no success. AT length
from sheer exhaustion he was obliged to let go,
hoping that he had enough of it and would go
off. But the buck had no such intention. Again
he charged upon LIS devoted knees, who again
lid hold of his horns and gave him another
long taste of the ground, until overcome with
the effort and severe pain in his battered legs,
he was obliged to let him go. While the buck
was preparing for another attack l.. got out his
small pen-knife. The buck came on with tre-
mendous force disabling both legs this time so
that l.. could not stand; but he succeeded i'll
catching his horns, and throwing himself upon
the animals head he tried to cut his throat but
made little impression. He stuck the knife in
to his mouth, tried to put out his eyes, but in
the struggle either broke the slight blade OF
dropped it. This round ended in the deers get
ting away leaving l.. flat on the ground, as Nor
rissey would say, mot able to come to time."-
In the meanwhile the buck continued to wall,
round his opponent, as if to see where he could
get in another Low. He made numerous
charges without doing much damage. There
was at a distance fallen tree, whose roots, with
a quantity of earth and briars, made an eleva.
ton of about five feet To this place l., drew