The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-14
CHASE OF A FAWN.

anu petteu Ny lauy III tHe VlildSS uutii
it had become as tame as possible. 1t
was graceful, as those little creatures al
ways are, and so gentle and playful that
it became great favorite, following the
different members of the family about,
caressed by the neighbors, and welcome
everywhere.
One morning, after gamboling about as
usual until weary, il threw itself down in
the sunshine, a. the feet of one of its
friends, upon the steps of store. There
came along a countryman, who for sew
eral years had been hunter, and who
still kept several dogs; one of the hounds
came with HIM to the village upon this
occasion. The dog, as 1t approached the
spot where the fawn lay, suddenly stop
ped ; the little animal saw him and darted
to its feet. 1t had lived more than half
its life among tho dogs of the village, and
had apparently lost all fear of them but
it seemed now to know instin ctively that
an enemy was at hand. In an instant a
change came over it; and the gentleman
who related the incident, aud who was
standing by at the moment, observed that
be had never in his life seen fuer sight
than the sudden uprising of instinct in
that beautiful creature.
? In second, its whole character and
appearance seemed changed, all its past
habits were forgotten, every wild impulse
was awake; the nostrils dilated, its eye
flashing. In another instant, before the
spectators had thought of the danger, be-
fore its friends could secure it, the fawn
leaped wildly through the streets, and the
hound in full pursuit. The bystanders
were eager to save it; several persons in
stantly followed on its track the friends
who had long fed and fondled it, calling
the name in haG hitherto known, in vain.
The hunter endeavored to whistle back
his dog, but with no more success. In
half a minute the tawn had turned the
first corner, dashed onwards towards the
lake, and throwu itself into the water.
But if fer moment the startled creature
believed itself safe in the cool bosom OF
the lake, it was soon nndeceived !; the
hound pursued it in hot and eager chase,
while dozen village dogs joined blindly
in pursuit.
Quite crowd collected on the bank
men, women, and children, anxious fol
the fate of the little animal known to
them all some threw themselves into
boats, hoping to intercept the hound be-
fore he reached his prey; but The splash
ing of the oars, the voices of the men and
boys, and the barking of the dogs must
have filed the beating heart of the poor
fawn with terror and anguish, as though
every creature on the spot where it had
once been caressed and fonGled, had sud-
denly turned into deadly foe.
1t was soon seen that the pet animal was
directing Its course across bay towards
the nearest borders of the forest, and i'm
mediately the owner of the hound crossed
the bridge, running at full speed in the
same direction, hoping to stop his dog as
he landed. On the fawn swan, as it
never swan before, its delicate head
scarcely seen above the water, but leav-
ing disturbed track, which betrayed its
course alike to anxious friends and fierce
enemies. As it approached the land, the
exciting interest became intense The
hunter was already on the same line of
shore, calling loudly and angrily to his
dog, but the animal seemed to have quite
forgotten his masters voice in the pitiless
pursuit. The fawn touched the land
in one leap it had crossed the narrow
piece of beach, and In another instant it
would reach the cover of the woods The
hound followed, true to the sceut, point.
ing at the same spot on the shore his
master, anxious to meet him, had run at
full speed, and was now coming up at
the same critical moment. Would the
dog listen to his voice, or could the hun
ter reach him in time to seize and control
him? A shout from the village bank
proclaimed that the fawn had passed out
of sight into the forest; at the same in
slant, the hound, as be touched the land,
felt the hunters strong arm clutching
his neck. The worst was believed to be
over; the fawn was leaping UP the noun
tain side, and Its enemy under restraint.
The other dogs, seeing their leader COW.
ed, were easily managed. A number of
persons men and boys, dispersed them.
selves through the wood, in search of the
little creature, but without success they
all returned to the village, and reported
that the animal had not been seen by
them. Some persons thought that after
its fright had passed over, it would return
of its own accord It had worn a pretty
collar, with It's owners name engraved
upon it, so that it could be easily known
from any other fawn that might be stray.
i inc about the woods.