Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-02-14
A DEER HUNT AT NIGHT,
BY EDWARD A. sAMUELs.

pI LOnAIND A. bhhOhbbs
A party of fishermen, we were on our
annual pilgrimage to the wilds Of nor
thern Maine. Nothing could have in
duced one of us to lose that pilgrimage /;
nothing can tempt us from participating
in those to come.
Each year, as soon as we return home,
we begin counting the weeks and days
we must pass before the time comes for
us to pack guns and rods, and start for
the northern country again. Life with
out these annual visits to the glorious
old woods, the lovely lakes, the rugged
and maj iestic mountains would be a dreary
thing, indeed; and to be deprived Of
our exciting contests with the "big
trout, and OF our crusades against the
grouse and water fowl would be terri
BILE.
Our camp was situated on the shore
of one of the principal lakes which form
the head waters of the Androscoggin; /;
behind the camp the forest stretched
out in an unbroken line far into Canada,
and across the lake, which was two miles
in width in front of the camp, the coun-
try rose rapidly, and beyond, as far as
the eye could reach, mountain lowered
on mountain, beautiful in their silent
strength and grandeur, awe-inspiring in
their majesty.
Our days were almost wholly spent by
each of us with rod or gun in hand, but
at night we gathered around the camp
fire, and for hours before "turning in
we " fought our battles DER again, one
in recounting the excitement of two
hours struggle with an eight-pound
trout, another in narrating the perilous
incidents of fight with bear, third
III describing his varied fortunes among
the duck and teal, and others in recall
ing thrilling adventures "by food and
6eld," that they had passed through.
Ore evening as we were thus settled
around the camp fire, each of us enjoy.
ing the fragrant weed, proposed in a
low tone to Steve Morse, who was one of
our guides, to light up the Jack lantern
and we would try the deer.
"It wouldn't pay to try 'em anywhere
we could go tonight" replied Steve,
",but if you want to go where I can put
you tomorrow night, I'll give you all
Lu0 ueeT uuuLluB you Wdub.
Cali right, " I answered, "I'm in for
any sport you can give me, and think
some venison in camp wouldn't be bad
thing. What do you say, boysp" L ex-
claimed in louder tone to the others,
"who wants some venison if I can get
it2"
"Venison wouldn't be bad to take,
but you can't get it every day" said one
OF the group of four who were busy at
"old sledge," playing by the light of
the camp fire.
"That's so," said another; "many's
the deer hunter who comes back to
camp without any meat"
"That may be-" said Steve, reflling
his pipe and relighting it, "but if we
go for deer tomorrow, you can bet we
don't come back empty-handed."
Bet" exclaimed another of the
party. "All right, bet it is; what's the
use of living if you can't have any fun.
I'll bet anything you like, Steve, that
you don't get deer tomorrow night. "
81 can't make any large bet," re-
piled Morse, "for my pockets amt very
deep; but 1 think can risk five dollars
on it. But I want to speak to Mr.. s.
first, and he led me aside from the
group. Chow are you on the shoot at
night ?" he asked in an undertone. eff
put you up to within ten feet of a
good buck, can you hit itp"
"Hit it, bless your soul, man." I an
swered, somewhat nettled; at his i'm
piled doubt of my craftsmanship; eff ]
can't hit deer at any time i can see it,
in daylight or dark, I'll eat my head.
Why, Steve, many and many's the single
duck I've cut down at night when ]
could but get glimpse of it as it went
by me like bullet"
"That may all be-" replied Steve,
still in an undertone; duck shooting
is one thing and deer shooting another.
/ don't want to risk no five dollars
until I know you are safe from buck
fever"
"See here, Steve" I answered, "1
don't propose to catch any buck fever,
and ] never miss my mark if have any
show at all. II you don't want to take
the bet I will"
"Well, if you feel 30 sure as all that,
replied Morse, "I'll take the bet; but
don't want to lose."
"You shall not lose," I replied, ''ant
furthermore, I'll say this, if you TAX,
the bet, and we don't get deer, tina
is, if you put me within shot of one, II
pay the five dollars, and if we do get
deer, you shall have the money. How
that ? Isn't it safe enough for you IT.
heads you win, tails 1 lose."'
"All right, said Steve, SCI can't asl
anything better than that, and wei
bring in deer, sure"
"Yes, Mr.. Gardner" he said, ad
dressing him who had offered the bet
I'll stand the racket on FIVE dollar
twont break me, anyway, and If W
don't bring in some venison when W
come back, I'm mistaken"
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