The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-24


splash, a scramble, and then l caught
sight of the gaunt form of Martin, paddle
in hand and hunting knife between his
teeth, loping along toward me, through
the tall, rank grass. But, alas, it was
too late. The auspicous moment had
passed. My fingers one by one loosened
their help, and the deer, gathering all his
strength with terrific elevation with his
feet, sent me reeling backward, just as
Martin, doubled up in heap, was about
10 light on his back. He missed the back,
but as good luck would have it, even
while the buck was in the air-the deer
going up as Martin came down-the
fingers Of the guide closed with full and
desperate grip upon his tail.
Quick as a flash ] recovered myself
from the bogs, replaced the jack, which
fortunately had not been extinguished,
upon my head, and stood IN Interested
spectator of the proceedings. Now ev-
erybOdy knows how wild deer can jump
when frightened and the buck, with
Martin fastened to his tail, was thoroughly
reused. The first leap Strengthened the
poor fellow out like lath, but it did not
/ shake him from his hold.
If the reader has ever seen 4 small boy
hanging TO the tail board Of u wagon,
VIXEN the horse was at full speed, he can
form faint idea of Martins appearance
| as the deer tore ike q whirlwind through
( the tall grass.
Blinded and bewildered by the light,
frensied with fear, the buck, as deer often
will, instead of leading off, kept racing up
and down just within the border of light
made by the jack, and occasionally max
ing bolt directly for it.
My position was unique. was the
sole spectator of series of gymnastic
evolutions truly original. Small as the
audience was, the performers were in
| earnest. Had there been a thousand
! spectators, the actors could not have laid
themselves out with greater energy. No
applause could have got another inch of
! jump out of the buck, or another inch of
horizontal position out of Martin. When
/ ever, at long intervals, his feet did touch
the ground, it was only to leave for an
other and higher aerial plunge. Now
and then the buck would take short
stretch into the fog and darkness, only to
reappear with the same inevitable attach
! ment of arms and legs streaming behind.
! The scene was too ludicrous TO be endured
in silence.
The desperate expression of Martins
/ face, as he swung round and jerked about,
was enough to made a monk explode with
laughter while doing penance. l rested
my hands on either knee, and laughed
/ oh
merriment was all on my side. Martin
was silent as death, save when the buck,
! in some extraordinary and desperate leap,
twitched a grunt out of him. Between
my paroxysms, exhorted him, it was my
! time to exhort.
''Martin, shouted, chang on that's
! y0ur deer, quit all claim to him. Hang
on, say. Save his tail, anyhow"
Whether Martin appreciated the adj
vice, whether he exactly saw where the
'laugh came in,' cannot say, and he
could not explain Still am led to think
that it was TO him no trlfing affair, but
matter which moved him profoundly.
At last the knife was jerked from his
teeth, either because of tho violence of
exertions OF because he had inadvertently
loosed his grasp on it, Be this as it may,
Martins mouth was at last opened. and
out of it were projected some Of the most
extraordinary expressions l ever heard.
| His sentences were singularly detached.
Even his words were widely separated,
but brought out with great emphasis. He
averaged about one word to jump. If
another got partially out, it was suddenly
and ruthlessly snapped off in mid utter
auce. The result of his efforts to express
himself reached my ears very much in this
shape.
Jump-tUI2-you- -be--e-d-d-I've
-GoT-you !-Tll-hold-d till
our-tail-comes- of!-,J1mp-p-p p-be
-D-D-DAMNED-Pve-got-you-u-u.
When the contest would have ended,
what would have been the result had it
continued, whether the buck or the guide
would have come off winner, it is not easy
to say. Nor is it necessary to speculate,
for the close was speedily reached, and in
an unlookedfor manner. The deer had
led off sope dozen jumps out of the circle
of light, and was beginning to think that
he had shaken himself loose from his
enemy, when all at once be emerged from
the fog with Martin still streaming behind
him, and made straight for the river
Never did sec buck vault higher or
project himself farther in successive leaps.
The Saranacer was too much put to it to
articulate word only a series of grunts,
as he was twitched along, revealed the
state of his pens up feelings.
Past me the deer flashed like fea-
thered shaft, heading directly for the
bank.
Hang on, Martini" 1 screamed, So
bered by the thought that he would save
him yet if he could only retain his grip.
"Haug to him like death !"
He did. Never did my admiration go
out more strongly toward man than it
| did toward Martin, as red in the face.