The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-18

Virginia, Belle, Fox, Countess, Ranter, Chan
tor and Drummer, better dogs never holed
red or bayed u wolf or deer,
He followed the trail about an hour on the
prairie, expecting every minute to bounce
The game. The trail passed through the or
cbard of Mr.. Lundy near MUD creek, anC
entered the timber. Where the trail entered
the timber met the sold Theron" who was
nretty wei! faded by his long tramp through
The deep snow. He mounted his horse anc
we proceeded on the trail together, keeping
the hounds back of US that we might get
shot at the deer before they would Jump 1t
The trail was very plain in the timber, Qht
snow not having drifted as much as on the
pralrie,) and it meandered about so much
that we knew we we're close to the deer which
we expected to find resting from the effects OF
the previous hard days chase. We had moi
proceeded far, when observed "Old Theron
rein his steed with such force as 10 bring
him back on his launches, and ere the horse
regained his feet, fire at the bounding doe
and mss her with the exception of putting
daylight through the right ear. 1t Is needless
for me to say he was disappointed at missing
his game, and that he blamed IL all upon
restless "Old JIM" his faithful hunter The
opep,ng pack yelled on in view of the timor.
after them. Our horses having taken the
hint, increased their speed. But little rest
did Vermillion's forest echoes know during
that thrilling moment The deer ran for the
river, which was about mile distant where
she expected TO find open water IN which she
would endeavor to battle the hounds. But
she was sadly disappointed; her prospects
for an anxious life were blighted; the river
was completely frozen over. On coming to
the river and finding it frozen over she led on
across the ice, up the river bluff, and out on
the prairie After striking the prairie she
took westerly course toward Reading and
Ancona. We paused on q ruR-,cay expecting
the pame to come back. But, alas we were
disappointed. She had left the forest haunts
never to return again. Hearing the distant
baying of our hounds growing fainter and
fainter we took to the trail and t0Il0lced up
On coming out Oh the prairie we felt as
though we were in the fridgld zone. The
"Old Theron's" beard was covered with ice
and the horses bride bits were hanging with
icices. Cattle were standing huddled to
gether under sheds and behind wind break
ers, with their backs bumped up, looking like
80 many dromedaries. Oooo! but twas
cold The Internal san dogs played fantastic
tricks around "Old Sol" and robbed hln OF
half his glory.
After following the trail two or three miles
westward on the prairie, it turned TO the
south crossing Long Point creek near its
source. BY this time the deer tmil showed
signs of fatiguing, by the spreading of It's
hoofs, and also by running close by houses
and through herds of cattle to battle the
hounds.
100 dangerous solitude appeared
She seeks the shelter OF the crowd;
Amid the aock's domestic herd
Her harmless head she hopes to shroud.'
But wherever the aid doe went, so went the
noble hounds.
Forward, still forward we dashed Scaling
fences and leaping bitches, we were bound to
know the result of the chase, for our motto is,
never to give up the chase while there is
scent in the trail"
About fifteen miles south of Long Point
the trail turned to the east, in which direc-
ton we followed shree or four miles, when
we came to a corn field IN which there were
several hundred head Of hogs. Hele we lost
the trail and had some difficulty in finding 1t.
Having found it, we urged our excellent
steeds along. The day was twoIhirds past
suers, yet our never failing pack still hung to
the trail, every foot print was marked with
their true blood and noble grit (Their feet
were raw and bleediug) After leaving the
corn field we followed the trail about twelve
miles north when it again turned TO the east,
crossing Short Point creek and heading for
Scattering Point, which timber we could see
in the distance, southeast OF us. The sun
was setting wher we reached Scattering
Point, and no prospectO o, .pturing the game
that day. After crossing tering Point we
came to an open prairie, In crossing which
the dogs ran wild, or, in other words, their
trail was very scattered, which was proof to
us that they were in sight of their tagging
game. We had not gone far after striking
the prairie when we lost all signs of the
trail, which had been tramped over by herd
of cattle.
While we were hunting for the trail we
were agreeably surprised to hear the Older
dogs tongue" long and loud, indicating
cold trail.
Galloping forward we found temporary
loss and our dogs working faithfully on the
trail. We fondly caressed them; they had
done all, even more than we expected oil
them, although we had followed them in sever
al all day chases. Well knowing where the
balk had been made, we concluded to let the
witty dee have her last night in peace.
Coupling our hounds we rode up to the
residence of Mr.. Nye, q Methodist elder and
an old settler Of Livingston Co. Stating our
circumstances he received us cordially and
cared Tor our stecds, while we directed our
attention to our trailers, which were keeping
a sharp lookout at the entrance of the culina
nv department for the debris of the kitchen
table After taking them TO the barn and Sc
curing them in a kennel, we repaired to the
house where we were greeted by Mrs. Nye
an excellent lady, and from whom we recelv
ed a cordial welcome and an invitation to be
seated at dining table of which Delnonico
might well be proud. The chief object tina
attracted our attention was an old fashioned
goose potpie, OF latest styled goosepte, placed
in the center of the groaning table, steam
ing like locomotive under full speed. 90
course il was not devoured at one meal0 AT
ter doing ample justice TO the pot,pte ano
other luxuries which were placed before us
we retired to the sitting room. For our half
starved pack Mrs. Nye very kindly made
pot of mush, which they greedily devoured
having had but one meal In two days
During the evening Mr. Nye entertained III
by relating some very interesting adventures