Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-07-25
WOODSTOCK W., WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1872

boat from the mud, and when he
reached the bow of the boat 1t would
be half way across the river again.
Now, Martin is man of great pa
tience. He is not by any means a
protane person. He had always
shown great respect for the cloth; but
everybody will see that this position
was a very trying one. Three several
times, as he afterwards informed me,
did ho drive that boat into the bank,
and three several times when he got
to the bow that boat was in the mid
die OF the river. At last Martins pa
tienoe gave way and out OF the fog
came to ny ears CALCULATIONS ofdisgust
and such strong expletives as are
found only in choice old English, and
howls of rage and disappointment
that none but guide could utter in
like circumstances. But human en-
durance has limit. Twas fast reach
ing 4 condition of mind when family
pride and transmitted powers Of resv-
luton fail. What did | care for my
fathers exploits with the rats at the
two inch auger hole What did the
family grip amount to after all ? ]
was fast losing sight of the connection
such vanlties sustained to me. was
undergoing rapid change IN many
respects-ot body as well as mind.
When ] got hold Of that deers leg |
WAS mentally full of pluck and hope
my hunting coat of Irish corduroy
was whole and tightly buttoned. Now,
mentally, | was demoralized ; every
button was gone from the coat, and
the righ, sleeve hung disconnected
from the body Of the garment. The
jack had been jerked from my head
and lay 4 rod in the grass. I could
hold on no longer. | would make
one more effort, one more appeal. L
did. "Martin, said ], "ain't you ever
going to get out of that boat ?" The
heavy thug Of the boat against the
bank, an explosion and spluttering
noise which sounded very much like
word dam spoken from between
-. .-.4l, -r,~-L, - scramble and
then | caught sight of the saunt form
of Martin, paddle in hand aud hunting
knife between his teeth, lopiug around
toward me through the tall, rank
grass. But alas it was 10 late. The
ausplcious moment had passed, My
fingers one by one iooSened their
hold, and the deer gathering all his
strength with terrific elevation Of
his hind feet sent me reeling backward
Just as Martin, doubled into heap,
was about to alight upon his back.
He missed the buck, but as good luck
would have it, even while the buck
was in the ar-thc deer going up as
Martin came down-the fingers Of the
guide closed with a full and desperate
grip upon his tail. Quick as a flash l
recovered myself from the bogs, re.
placed the jack, which fortunately had
not been extinguished, upon my head,
and stood an interested spectator OF
the proceedings.
Now, everyb ,dy knows howa wild
deer can jump when frightened and
the buck with Martin fastened to his
tail was thoroughly reused. The first
leap Strengthened the poor fellow out
like a lath, but it did not shake him
from his hold. IT the reader has ever
seen a small boy hanging 10 the tail
board of a wagon when the horse was
at full speed, he can form faint idea
of Martins appearance as the deer
tore like a whirlwind through the tall
grass. Blinded and bewildered by
the light, irenzied with fear, the buck,
as deer often will, instead of leading
off kept racing up and down just with
in the border of the light made by the
jack and occasionly making bolt di-
rectly for it. My position was unique.
[ was the sole spectator ofa series of
gymnastic evolutions truly original.
Small as the audience was the per-
formers we're thoroughly i'll earnest.
Had there been ten thousand specta-
tors the actors could not have laid
themselves out with greater energy.
No applause could have got another
inch Of jump out Of the buck or anoth-
er inch of horizontal position out OF
Martin. Whenever, at long intervals,
his feet did touch the ground it was
only to leave il for another and higher
aerial plunge. Now aud then the buck
would take short stretch INTO :he
fog and darkness only to reappear
with the same inevitable attachment