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


CANS gentle rub to feel if they were there.
In the farm yards, cattle were huddled TO-
gether in some sheltered nook, waiting impa-
tiently for the sun to rise. The welcome visi-
tor having made his appearance, JACK rios'
heat hasty retreat, but that cold and sung
ling December blast still remained.
Just as the king of the day stood tlptoe
on the cold, leahess tree-tops, we lett lhe
cracking fagots of a warm home IN quest oi
the timid monarch OF the waste LOT ohiis''
mas broIl.
We were bundled up costly, our steeds
were in fine trim, and our hounds were howl
ling in their couplings, anxious tor chase.
After an hours riding up the Vermillion s
cheerless forest, we came to Otter creek WIN
ont meeting any signs of the timld deer
Crossing the creek and keeping up the river
we next came to Prairie creek without sfrlK-
ing any deer trails. :,
Having proceeded about mile AFTER cross,
ing Prairie creek we came to "shanty, an
G isolated. slab.board structure, which stood
near the river bluff, and noticing a placard
on the door we rode up and read, "Hard'
scrabble, Forty rod" Twas not forty rods
ito Hardscrabbie, but Forty Rod" inside the
Ibuilding. We were In the city limits OF
Hardscrabble, now bearing the classic name
LOT Streator, and one of the most active young
cities in the state, and for mineral wealth mas
but few equals in the west
Bidding adieu to Hardscrabble we proceed
ed on our journey, vending our way through
close thickets and hidden glades hoping TO
bounce the noble game. After crossing a
branch of Coal run-hark! Old Ranger
struck a trail! There, hear Drive! All!
Flutes in! That's game! The trail grows
warmer! There, they're all in! The games
y Jumped! Great heavens, what running!
What music Orpheus, hang your Tyre upon
the willows such sweet, such melting strains
; were never wrought by art. They broke for
high ground, then their soft, harmonious
i cadence sang louder on the morning ar,
then sank IN mellow notes as they descended
over the hill, then died away in the valley
below, then again swelled in grandeur TO us
height as they emerged and climbed lony
cliff. How sweetly sounded the echoes OF
each mellow note on that cold, frosty morn.
"The distant lodges echo from afar,
| The snow clad woods resound the hyinG war;
The tuneful noise the sprightly courser hears
Paws the cold turf and pricks his trembling ears
The slackened rein now gives him all his speed,
Back flies the rapid ground beneath the steed,
Hills. daes and forests, far behind remain,
While the warm scent draws on the deep
mouthed train"
The game, (which proved to be a yearling
NS'-'5
Jumped ran down Coal run short distance,
Then cut across narrow neck of land to the
river, after crossing which, it entered bot
tom containing dense thickets of underbrush,
in which she Circled four or five times, then
started up the bluff near Dogtown, small
mining village in Livingston Co, crossing
another narrow neck OF land to the river
Az the deer came bounding down the
cracgy precipice, the report OF rifle was
heard, which echoing in concert with the
hounds deep baying, tar, far up the river, In.
spired us with feelings truly romantic.
The doe never flinched; she fairly flew over
the ground, with the blooded gang In close
pursuit One by one they came over the
rocks, belching forth such music rs the banks
of the VermilIOn never heard. After descend.
ing the precipice, they crossed the river and
enterrd another bottom similar to the first, in
VIII CHI they made round or two, then start.
ed up the river.
We whipped after them on spirited gallop,
through the brush, over logs and stumps,
crossing deep holows and swampy creeks.
ON reaching a slight eninence we paused
q moment for iidings of the chase. The dis.
liant tongueing was growing fainter and faint.
er; the hounds were going up the river, the
feet doe leading them with splendid bounds.
Having lost hearing Of the dogs we took to
the trail and followed it on q steady gallop.
keeping a sharp lookout for any signs of
game On, on, we pressed, nothing daunting
lus; we were in chase of royal game. Our
sleeds were white with frost and foam. but
we kept on, being anxious for a Christmas
broi. On coming to high bluff we listened
a moment for The harmonious sounds OF our
we'll trained pack. "Harki harkl hear
themr' says father, "the game is running
the back track Dismount! Stand to one side
IF tho trail. xn,au III hava the uamp this time
Lay low The dogs are coming down yonder
point! Look sharp! They are close to the
game or the game Is close to-there's the
deerr' Iheard the sharp click of the gun lock
as he brought 1t the gum to bear on old Ran
ger, our favorite red-tan hound that was
Just rising in sight. Discovering his mistake
in time TO save the old fellow, he lowered his
bluaderbuss and inquired of me If had seen
the deer. On receiving n negative reply he
said that there was baik, that the deer never
crossed the hollow, but after doubling turned
suddenly TO one side to battle the hounds
Old Ranger and his mates soon discovered
their fault and logan circllng to catch the
scent, "Ah! Old Flora has found the trail !;
listen she fairly makes the welkin ring"
Although she had not the speed the other
hounds had she had a cold nose, and when a
loss was made, old Flora was sure 10 find it
when she came up Away went the whole
gang up the river again. We mounted our
horses for pursuit, and on descending the
bluff, came to swampy creek which was
not frozen over Leading our horses up to
it and letting them satisfy themselves as to
its nature, we very rashly crossed it by fore
ing them to jump from the main land to
small mounds, not daring TO let them step
into the water After landing on terra trina
we had a steep and rocky bluff to ascend
Having succeeded in scaling this formidable
barrier of rocks we came TO an extensive
barrens covered with high grass informing
3 ling with hazel brush and quaking.asp thick
!. cts, the grass being tall enough TO brush
our faces as we were riding on our horses.
= Having lost hearing of the hounds we took
to the trail again, which by following brought
us out on the prairie. On emerging from the
e timber we saw our hounds far out on the
Il prairie, working faithfully on the trail, and