Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-08

cradle talk in this neIghborhoOd OF Deer Hunt,
to take place in Puslinch. All preliminaries
being arranged, and Saturday last being select
ed as the day, the party, comprising some half
dozen enthusiastic sportsmen, with four first
class dogs, might have been seen about daylight
vending their way to the scene of action. The
day broke damp and dull, and the rain, (which
had fallen heavily throughout the night still
battered down occasionally, damping everything
except the spirits of the hunters The swamp
which the deer were supposed to haunt lies about
four miles from Galt and within one mile Of the
new famous Puslinch Lake.
Arriving at the spot, arrangements were OF
once made by which every well-used "run'
could be watched, and as some of the party
were armed with double barrelled guns, loaded
with buck shot, the most difficult passes were al
lotted to them, while those who had possession
OF trusty rifles guarded the more open parts of
the swamp. Among those 'who placed their
trust in good handful of buckshot was your
correspondent, and soon reached the station al
lotted to me, being on the edge of dense thick
ct Of small tamarack trees, and my companions
gradually disappeared in the heart OF the swamp.
If you have ever partaken of the excitement
of hunt with hounds, know you must often
have remarked the stillness-the almost awful
stillness-that reigns in Swamps like the one on
whose edge now stood. For few moments
after my companions left me, their course could
be traced by the cracking of the dead twigs be-
meath their feet, but gradually all these sounds
were hushed, and nothing was heard save the
occasional whoop of the hunter to encourage the
dogs. But at length even this died away, and
solemn silence surrounded me. have said be-
fore that the morning was wet, and, although
it had now stopped raining, the heavy mist was
rising in clouds from the swamp, hanging the
trees with drapery Of glistening drops. Oc-
casionally rush like stray wind would pass
over my head-breaking the stiffness only to
make it appear more utter than ever, after it
had passed-and flock of pigeons would sail
heedlessly by. But listen. Afar off in the
swamp-so far, indeed, that it is impossible
rightly to distinguish the sound-something
breaks the almost oppressive silence-that causes
the heart to beat with quicker motion, and sends
the blood coursing through my veins with light
ming speed. Jumped to my feet, and stretched
out my head in my anxiety to catch the distant
sound. Again it struck upon my ear, and the
deep, prolonged tone told me truly that the scent
was struck. Anxiously listened to the music
of the hounds, to learn the direction taken by
the deer, and soon could tell by the clearness
of the cry that they had headed my way. Grasp
ing my gun with firm hand, l eagerly watched
every outlet in the course of the dogs, and every
sound caused an involuntary raising Of my piece
in that direction. Nearer and nearer they came
louder and louder became the sweetest music
ever listened to by the hunter-till at length it
seemed as if the noble game must in moment
bound out before me. But no the last CRY told
me plainly that the deer had headed across the
swamp, and that he had turned to traverse his
steps in hope of throwing his pursuers off. But
it is all in vain, and although now rapidly Wild
ening the distance between myself and him, the
never-failing dogs stick close behind. Gradu-
ally all sound again dies away-the old stiffness
creeps On-and your correspondent once more
seats himself, to await the next turn round.
had not long to wait. Soon the same dis
tant sound again saluted my ear, and once more
it was evident that the deer was coming my way.
Rapidly it approached, and again l held my gun
with frmer grasp Louder pealed the music
from the dogs-nearer and nearer came the game
when suddenly the echoes of the forest were
awakened by the intensely sharp crack of a rife
Again all was still-the quietness was even I'M
broken by the dogs-when loud halloo struck
upon the ear, and cheer announced the success
of the shot Fastening to the spot found most
of my companions assembled around the body
of fine spike buck. The ball from the rife
had entered beneath its front shoulders, which
it had broken in its course. and must have lodged
in some vital part, for after running few yards
it fell quite dead. After admirin g it sufficient
time, and OF course removing all superauous
matter, two of our party departed with the
game to the house of a farmer close Mt hand
and we set out to endeavor to obtain another
run.
We succeeded in our endeavors to start anoth-
or deer, and although we failed to secure it, had
a most magnificent chase. Twice the game ran
round by 'The SpOrtsman's rest" on the road
to Hespeler, and from thence to the shores of
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