Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-28
The Deer Hunt.

Morning III the wilderness. he east was
rosy red, save where layer of clouds lying
athwart the rising light cut it from north to
south with its black plane. The mountain
submits to the east were crested with re-
lected fire, while the snow which crowned
them with its cold beauty blushed at the
kiss of the ardent morning. The lake was
one vast valley filled with fog The impen-
etrable fleece possessed the intervening space
from shore to shore, and even masked the
lower mountain from sight The trees drip
ped lazily. The gaily tinted leaves of the
naples in the coves, without cause, let 90
their holds upon the stems and hoated in in
dolent, zig.zag motions downward. The
squirrels in the thickets were waking the
tiny echoes with their noisy gatherings. At
intervals, the harsh shrek of the king-fsher
disturbed the air, while now and then loon
sent forth its weird call from amidst the
feather fleece. Soon, the sun let loose its
energies; the red beams marshalled them
selves upon the eastern crests and then
charged downward in fiery squadrons upon
the fog into it and through it they dashed.
They trampled in under foot, opened broad
lanes from shore to shore, cut into it right
and left, and sent it flying. The warm, vi
brant life was too much for the cold, inert
deadness in a brief space, the mighty orb
of day stood forth in the blue sky in all his
glory. The lake lay plain to the view, but
its surface still smoked; the dead air be-
came current, and waves of thinnest vapor
rolled along the smooth surface. Here and
there a shortened column of denser mist
rose from the water. In the bays and around
the shores off the coves, where were the in
lets, few vagrant patches might be seen
stealing, like detected guilt from the light
of day. Thus Day, bright and clear, with
all it brings of light, and warmth, and re-
newed life, had triumphed over its gloomy
rival.
Just as the fog began to lift from the sur
face of the water, boat with the lad in it
showed out from Tomahawk Point, and
started down the lake. As it glided for
ward, the old trapper, who was in the act of
charging his rifle, paused moment, with his
palm on the top of his ramrod, and said
"Now, lad, don't We forgit where We are
to watch Henry Herbert will lie off the big
rock, and We are to place yerself inside the
island, so We can see well down the lake.
shan't start the dogs till find big un, and
he won't run fur if he's fat and Sport is
as We saw he is in a race. and | warrant
Rover won't fool away time. for can sec
D\ tile look Ill his eve tIldt ne hungry lOl
the scent. and will be crazy when he gits il
warm and strong. Keep yer eyes open. lad
for I shall drive in a big nm. and II We are n,
GOOD at shootin' as We be at rowin' veil kill
him before he gets within half mile of the
lake" and the trapper laughed at his own
conceit 81 tell We Henry" he continued
as he drove the bullet home. still Keeping hi,
eve on the receding boat Z. the lad has hi.
gifts. but it's wonderful that the Lore
sbould do them mn in that sort of a fashion
for he's unnaturally lengthy to begin with
an looks as if he was built in sections. an
as if the sections were not half mt togethe,
at that. but his snirit is RIGHT and he sar
tinlv nulled a stroke last nigbt that wa.
amazing. There Henry" he continued. as h,
carefuliy canned the tubes al didn't like IN,
wav the bullet in the left barrel felt as | sem
il down for If went unsteady. hut the one
have mt into tbe right was n heautv an 4
drove even and trne from mnzzle 10 cham
her as a bullet sbould drive So NOW if y,
are ready take var RIA and doas on, we vil
start tbe canoe The sun has eot mn tb,
mist an, it,s high time tbe nnns ,yera ont "
In a monent the canoe corta;ning III,
TRAINER Herbert and tho bounds laf1 tb,
no;nt and in five minutas ,yas across tb,
how The tranner tool boId;nr tha doc,s !,
leasb On the rnck for an ;nstant and soid
mIf was in ver rlace Uanrv vol,
lie we'll off here abreast Of the rock for th,
rnnwav comes ont hv that ledge tbere on
more than ono deer have I seen tate tb,
iumn av;n,, an, if the dogs Nav fast as
;b;nt tbay viii for sbanf stari then onti
7 start a bucl, fron, b;s nast an, ;s I'll,
taLe water here Va viii see as nretty a siab
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