The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-06-06

ever, seeIneu 10 nave Jdheli tllOCl.
The whole scene had passed with q
rapidity that confused the female, who
was unconsciously rejoicing in the es-
cape of the buck, as he rather darted
like a meteor, than ran across the road
before her, when a sharp, quick sound
struck her ear, quite different from the
full, round report of her fathers gun,
but still sufficiently distinct to be
known as the concussion of firearms.
At the same instant that she heard
this unexpected report, the buck
sprang from the snow, to great
height in the air, and directly a second
discharge, similar to the first, followed,
when the animal came to the earth,
falling headlong, and rolling over on
the crust once or twice with its own
velocity. A loud shout was given by
the unseen marksman, as triumphing
in his better aim; and couple of men
instantly appeared from behind the
trunks of two of the pines, where they
had evidently placed themselves in ex-
pectation of the passage of the deer.
"Ha! Natty, had / known you
were in ambush, 1 would not have fir
ed" cried the traveller, moving tow
ards the spot where the deer lay-near
to which he was followed by the de-
lighted black, with the sleigh; "but
the sound of old Hector was too exhil-
arating to let me be quiet; though l
hardly think L struck him either"
"N-no-Judge," " returned the hunt
er, with an inward chuckle, and with
that look Of inward eXultation, that
indicates a consciousness of superior
skill "you burnt your powder, only
to warm your nose this cold evening.
Did We think to stop full grown buck,
with Hectar and the slut open upon
him, within sound, with that robin
pop-gun in your hand? There's plen-
ty Of pheasants among the swamps ;
and the snow birds are flying round
your own door, where you may feed
them with crumbs, and shoot enough
for pot-pie, any day; but if you're
for a buck, or a little bears meat,
Judge, you'll have to take the long rifle,
with creased wadding, or you'll
waste more powder than you'll fill
stomachs, Pm thinking"
As the speaker concluded, he drew
his bare hand across the bottom of his
nose, and again opened has enormous
mouth with a kind of inward laugh.
"The gun scatters well, Natty, and
has killed deer before now," said the
traveller, smiling Sv0d llunnoreuly
"One barrel was charged with buck
shot; but the other was loaded for
birds only. Here are two hurts that
he has received; one through Ills neck,
and the other directly through the
heart. 1t is by no means certain, Nat
ty, but | gave him one or the two"
''Let who will kill him." said the
hunter, rather surlily, 81 suppose the
cretur is to be eaten" So saying, he
drew a large knife from a leatherr
sheath, which was stuck through his
girdle or sash, and cut the throat o
the animal eff there is two balls
through the deer, | want to know i
there wasn't two rifles fred-besides
who ever saw such a ragged hole from
a smooth bore, as this is through thu
neck ?-and you will own yourself
Judge, that the buck fell at the las
shot, which was sent from truer anC
a younger hand, than your'n or mine
: 'ither; but for my part, although / an
, poor man,, / can live without tin
venison, but ] don't love to give VI
my lawful dues in a free county
r Though, for the matter Of that, Nigh
often makes right here, as well as il
the old county, for what | can see."
An air of sullen dissatisfaction per
) vaded the manner of the hunter dur
r ing the whole of this speech; yet h
thought it prudent to utter the clos
' of the sentence in such an under-tone
l as to leave nothing audible but tn
| grumbling sounds of his voice.
"Nay, Natty," rejoined the travel
ler, with undisturbed good humol
cit is for the honor that contend.
: few dollars will pay for the venison
but what will requite me for the los
honor of bucks tail in my cap
Think, Natty, how | should trump
: over the quizzing dog, Dick Jones
, who has failed seven times this seaso
1 already, and only brought one wood
r chuck and few gray squirrels"
/ "Ah the game is becoming hard
: find, indeed, Judge, with your cleal
: ing and butterments," said the oil
2 hunter, with a kind of disdainful resie
milton. "The time has been when
: have shot thirteen deer, without count
4 ing the fans, standing in the door {
@ my hut !--and for bears meat, if on
: wanted ham or so from the cretul
d he had only to watch a-nights, and b
d could shoot one by moonlight, throug
b the cracks Of the logs; no fear of h
s over-sleeping himself, n'ither, for I'll
It bowling Of the wolves was sartin
o keep his eyes open. Theirs old He'
I tor, r,"-patting with affection a ia
h hound, of black and yellow spot
e with white belly and legs, that ju
|. then came in on the scent, accompal
i led by slut he had mentioned; "s'
n where the wolves bit his throat, ii
" night / druve them from the venison
e was smoking on the chimney top-th
l. dog is more to be trusted nor many
d Christian man; for he never forgets
le friend, and he loves the hand that Civ
d hin bread"
G There was popularity in the ma
3 ner of the hunter, that struck the n
d tice of the young female, who hs