The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-05-13

cavil, took the dog, which had come to
us in few minutes after the buck had dis
appeared, knowing that if he had been
wounded he would not go far from the riv-
er, and started across Coaxing the dog
along as INVADED into the stream backward
which was about $50 yards wide, deep and
rapid, fell backward, over sunken rock,
and of course went under neck and heels
Belonging, as l did, ITO that branch of the
Christian Church sometimes sacrilcgiously
termed "web-footed," because they main
tain the apostolic form of baptism, | didn't
mind practicing what l preached, but
,,ruck out, swan across, follow ed by the
dog, and put him upon the track, the Col.
meanwhile remaining at his post. AS soon
as the dog found the trail and started, /
''shed my linen" and so forth, and spread
them out upon the bank to dry. Whilst
thus Invested, and meditating upon the
uncouth and uncomfortable appearance our
first parents must have presented before
they learned the art of sewing fig leaves
together, l heard the dog in full tongue,
circling around toward the river o short
distance above me. For the purpose of
heading the game down stream towards
where the Colonel was standing, I started
up the bank, but coming to high, rugged
cliff, bristing with formidable growth
OF bamboo briars, | concluded it would
not be very pleasant to pass thro' them in
the unprotected and delicate condition in
which l happened to be at the moment,
and plunged into the stream, for the pur-
pose of swimming around the barrier. Just
as had gotten opposite the cliff, l heard
a racket above, and looking up saw the
buck, with the dog hanging to him, suspen-
pended between wind and water" and
the next instant the buck, dog and myself
were about as near being in a pile as three
animals could well be in water five feet
deep. Knowing the danger of wounded
buck, or even at bay when not wounded,
and that was bound to Ego up the spout"
or to the bottom of the stream, if the dog
didn't save me, and seeing the enraged an
lmal turn toward me with his blazing blach
eyes and hair all turned the wrong way, |
called upon the dog as loudly and as
earnestly as ever a man called upon friend
in pinch, and he responded nobly. He
swan up and caught the buck by the
throat, but was stricken to the bottom in
an Instant and when he again appeared
on the surface, he was at least 20 feet from
the immediate scene of action. Meantime
the buck was approaching me with all the
ferocity of u tiger, and | retreating as fast
as man could in water up to his chin-I
had no time to swim-when the dog again
seized him behind, and they had it round
and round in the current, the dog holding
his grip with a tenacity that proved that
he comprehended the difficulties of the
situation. Here the scene became exciting.
and, unlike the woman who, when she saw
her husband and bear fighting, said she
didn't care which whipped, 1 must confess
had very decided choice. The tustle
lasted several minutes, and l became so
much interested in it, and had so much
sympathy for one of the combatants. that
| forgot my danger, when 1 had ample
time to escape to the shore and take tree
II found it necessary. Col. White, hear
ing the melee in the water, came up, wa
ded into the stream up to his shoulders,
held the muzzle Of the gun to the bucks
head and fired, and the first knew of his
presence was the report of lis rife and see
ing the buck float off with hole in his
head. On getting out on dry land we
found that the Colonel had given the deer
a fatal shot the first time, the ball having
entered his flank and ranging diagenally
through his body had lodged under the
skin, behind the opposite fore-leg. A right
good shot with a rifle, at so yards, and the
game at full speed.
So much for the decr-hunt, which at one
time I thought was to be my last but,
thro' the interposition of Col. White aud
tile other gentleman named, have enjoyed
many lively one since.
"a word or two more" as long-winded
preachers sometimes say, land will bring
my remarks to close.' have hunted
great deal in my time, but not being a very
good shot, it has usually fallen to my lot
to drive, and have thus been afforded an
opportunity of learning somewhat the hab-
its OF the deer, which is not only singu-
lar animal in many of its instincts, but l
have sometimes thought that an old buck
was endowed with reasoning faculties, as
well as with good degree of scientific
knowledge. He is natural civil engineer,
for, start him where you may, he seems to
comprehend in an instant his course and
his destination, and if his track is followed
it will be found that he has travelled the
most practicable route to the point he
other indication of reason is, that an old
buck, in the hunting season, is often found
in company with STOW head" or yearling
deer. When he hears the dogs upon his
trail, he starts off at moderate gait, keep
ing the unsophisticated young one alittle in
advance, and at the first favorable oppor-
tunity he will spring off to one side and
take roundabout course to the very bed
from which he had just been hurried; the
young one, not perceiving the strategy,
keeping straight on, and ofcourse followed
by the dogs.
1 had intended to give you few more
indications of the close alliance between
instinct and reason in the deer, but I am
at the bottom of my sheet and will grant
you respite.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your too
kind indulgence, and with the threat that
you may expect to hear from me weekly
for while longer,
l am yours, most respectfully,
G. B. G.
abingdon, Va., May 10, 1870.
Town ELECTIONS IN MARYLAND.-At the