Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-06

ligence or of inquiry. lie seemed to be gazing
down into the caverns of my soul, as if taking
observation of my thoughts and scanning my
ultimate intentions. He seemed to be putting
the question to me in distinct terms and al
though he possessed not the gift of human
speech, yet his look could be plainly interpreted
as though he had spoken in an audible voice,
and seemed to inquire, Who shall be master p?
Shall l give up to you, as the " lord of crea-
tion,' or are you sor1e cowardly miscreant
|Shom | shall Triangle to death beneath my
y Af fSirMaeak Who shall be mas
AL. had no fsishtt
tGe iln3 ilsvs, Al dreaded a renewal of 80
TOontct. He seemed to understand my thoughts
and to despise my weakness, for his upper lip.
began to tremble again with strange nervous,
hend-like twitching, while his eyes expanded
wider and wider, and glared as two fre-balls
upon me. His back rose up Ikea bow bent for
the target by the strong hand Of an unerring
marksman; his frame grew larger and more
portentous with evil while his name bristled
up, seemingly, as stiff as porcupine quills. He
was fierce and terrible thing to look upon, for
he seemed the very embodiment of relentless,
undying bate. Now his whole attitude
plainly said. war to the knife This shall be
your last contest on earth : And then he blew
his trumpet blast, his snort of vengeance, in my
face
But, strange to say, this scornful snort of de-
lance, this nervous tremor of the upper lip,
which had sent a shivering chill through my
frame prod iced now contrary effect, and nerv-
ed rather than depressed my resolution to con-
quer or die. My previous exhaustion, my al
most lethargic Indifference to my fate had pass
ed away in a moment If his breathing spell
had rested him it had rested me alsc if he was
determined to renew the battle, was none the
less nerved for the contest and if the issue was
doubtful, was resolved to hold on, and if fell
| should die gloriously, and with colors nailed
to the mast
The very first lunge that he made avoided
by stepping adroitly to one side, and by sud-
den and dexterous twisting of his horns just
at the moment when his head was bent down
with savage intent fortunately succeeded in
tripping him from his heels, and he fell heavily
to the EARTH Although we had struggled over
much ground, and had removed many PAGES
from the place where the battle first began
strange to say, we had now returned to the iden-
teal spot and the body of my enemy pressed
again the same grass it had pressed down be-
fore And oh happy recollection there lay
my glittering blade, as though God had brought
1t to my hand, and shouted help in my ears
help for the widows son. Quick as thought
seized the glistening blade and drove it to the
hilt in the fallen animals throat. 1t was
enough had severed the carotid artery and
Juaular vein both at one stroke. had not
I'M however, to cut, his wind-ppe; and it
va seiI for me that I aid not give up my hold
uupvs mis- horn, for in moment he was on his
ieet again and the knife was flirted from my
hand. But although he plunged fast and strong,
ana made some fierce lunges at my breast and
abdomen, the odds were against him now, and
hope gave me strength to persevere to the end
For although his hot blood spirited into my
face as scarlet shower, and covered my clothes
as with II bloody mantle, yet all that filled my
heart with exultation, for knew that in all
that bis life-blood was fast spinning out. At
last the battle was over. The wild buck was
no longer enraged, for death was upon him now, &,
and death will cool down the wrath of man and
beast alike. The intense fre-light of his eyes
had burned out, or was only fickGring in its
socket; and his lip, no longer quivering with
rage, hung motionless and livid. He stood still
for few moments, still gazing into my eyes
with his dying look, as if asking the question,
Are you satisfied | yield to you only in
death Then bowling his head, as if in sub
mission, fit of shuddering convulsed his frame
for few seconds. and he fell lifeless at my feet.
But, like the slain warrior, who, unconquered,
still grasps his reeking sword, he looked grim
and terrible even in death.
/ When | knew that he was dead. and not un-
| Ll klnue
and falling heavily to the earth, lay utterly
exhausted upon the ground, and with my head
Testing upon the neck of my fallen foe, sunk
into deep and heavy sleep which lasted more
than an hour At the expiration of this time,
rose up in sitting posture and looked around
upon the field Of battle Two noble bucks lay
dead upon the green sward but as looked to.
ward my feet drew them back in alarm, for
they were resting upon the body of huge rat
tlesnake But to my great relief | soon dis
covered that he was not only dead, but COM
pletely mangled by the hools of the two deer
which | had slain. This, then, had been the
: occupation of the noble animals had so ruth
lessly killed. They had been engaged in the
laudable work of putting to death the common
foe of man and beast.
When | had surveyed the terrible scene for a
few moments could not resist the impulse, and
am not ashamed to confess it--I knelt down
, upon my knees, just there by the fallen stag
( aGrmIersd wit!Agore as was, poured out
- 10 that God whose
,D5( lHe through all thai
surely It's lie had sent the ram caught in tht
thicket to save the life of Isaac so also he SEN
one Of His angels to place the knife within my
grasp, that might not perish alone and un
, aided. And | have sometimes thought it wal
e not |, but Gods angels, who tripped up thu
Q heels of the savage buck. At all events | fee
t assured that naught but Gods goodness-God'