Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-12

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nothing, or but little, of the habits Of the ami.
NAL, and judged in my ignorance, that he was
secure beyond the possibility of escape. Well
in fact he was. had always considered the
deer harmless animal, but found to my COST
that buck was not a deer.
/ stacked my empty rife against the elm, and
drawing my knife stepped around intending to
push him over and bleed him, preparatory to
taking Oft his hide, and cutting him up for use
AS stepped around the tree, | stood directly in
front of the innocent looking brute, when hi
gave u sudden lurch forward again, knocking
me over and planting his fore feet firmly upon
my breast. fell heavily into the snow, break
ing through the strong crust, and letting 60 the
knife in my efforts to save myself The light
snow sifted in upon my face, binding me for a
moment, and chilling me somewhat, though I
soon shook it off, and began to cast about for
some means of escape from my unenviable stu
alton. | grasped him by the ankles and tried
to Wroaeh his feet from my breast, and even sue
ceeded in getting one foot off and turning upon
my side; but he soon jerked his foot free, and
commenced such a stamping that was glad to
turn over again and keep quiet. lie kept look
ing right down into my eyes, and was COM
PEELED TO look as steadEstly into his. The least
turning of my eyes, or the least movement that
made, was sure to be followed by such an in
cessant stamping that soon learned that my
only safety lay in keeping still. As long as I
remained perfectly motionless, he stood quietly
but heavily upon my breast. 1t was Il phase of
deer hunting that had not calculated upon, and
my first feelings were more Of modification at
my lack of skill, than any apprehensons of per-
sonal danger. The pressure upon my stomach
was severe and painful, but as long as he kept
still, endurable, and concluded to wait patient
ly the appearance of the dogs, feeling assured
that they would return as soon as it was fairly
dark to relieve me from Ray uncomfortable stu
alton.
! lay very still and quiet for half an hour, or
more, when l began to grow nervous, as one
will when compelled to keep any position, and
wished to just turn slightly for relief could
hardly repress my desire to change my position,
but I stood it brayely half an hour longer,
growing more and more uneasy. By this time
it had become shadowy. and | fanced that if
dared remove my eyes from those Of my tor
mentor, should see stars through the tree tops.
/ had become so extremely nervous, that de-
termined to make one desperate effort to over
come my implacable foe, feeling that could
not much longer endure that terrible sameness
of position, and might as we'll lose ray life at
once, as to finger along in such agony Keep
ing my eyes fastened on his, cautiously raised
my arms, and placing them upon my breast, be-
tween his fore feet, pressed suddenly with all
nay might, and slipped his feet either side. and
then sprang quickly, hoping to regain my feet.
But he was too quick for my science, and the
moment he felt his feet moved of, he began
such stamping as soon made me quite willing
to lay down again, and look him in the eye |
received some very severe thumps, but gained,
at least, a change Of position, though thatdon't
exactly express it, as was forced ba ok to the
same position but gained movement that
greatly relieved me, though on the whole /
hardly knew whether was gamer or loser
by the operation. was content to lay quiet
awhile after it, at all events
l settled back into my bed of snow, and be-
gan to look and listen anxiously for the APP
pearance of the dogs. AS the darkness ncreas-
ed, expected every moment to see them come
bounding round the hill; and this pleasing ex-
pectation, though it resulted in increased bit
terncsS in the end, served to divert my mind and
materially assist in passing another hour. But
as the hour passed, and night set in, expe-
rienced for. the first time, sensation of real
fear The dogs, on whom had so confidently
depended, had failed me, and was alone. some
miles into the forest, unable to help myself,
and unlikely to receive any assistance from any
source. | was prisoner in snow. bank, with
a keeper that seemed determined to make my
term assdisagreeable as possible thought of
a hundred ways of escape, if he would only SO
far relax his vigilance as to allow me to move a
little As night deepened, he very humanely
allowed me the use of my eyes, but not move
ment. The first thought of death under such
circumstances was Overpowering, and consider
able time passed before 1 was nervous again.
The night was hazy, with a full moon in cir
Giles which | watched creep up slowly and ma
iesticallY over the tree tons. thinking all the