The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-15

A
and he tossed il off without hesitation,
declaring it was "the bes. drink he'd
ever had in his life!" This, for a
gentleman who lived luxuriously at
home, himself-for he was q planter of
large means in one of the broad valleys
below-was something to note; for, be-
yond doubt, that hunting horn had
done duty at that contraband's lips any
time, perhaps, for years, before it was
selected to serve as drinking horn for
his master.
We got safely out from the flames at
last, by selecting bald spur of the
mountain close by, known to one of the
party, and staying there until the fire
went roaring past us; but the hunt was
at an end for that time, for the fire had
driven all the game out of that section
of the mountain district, and we were
forced to postpone it to q further oppor-
tunity.
While on the subject of deer hunting,
must tell the story of another "deer-
drive" which was not failure. Let me
say in advance, however, that in the
whole region 1 am dealing with deer
will always abound more or less, if some
legislation can be had to protect them a
portion of the year; and provided, also,
they are not hunted too persistently
and industriously with hounds. So
long as the sport could be confined
to "stil hunting" quietly moving
through the hills with rifle to take
ones chances = the deer would have
some opportunity to escape wholesale
slaughter. But good pack of hounds
can soon clear out any section, for they
scour the most inaccessible places-in
accessible readily to the hunter by him
self-so that driving the deer to their reg
ular pathways through gaps in the hills
and crossing places along the rivers,
they are there made victims to the
clumsiest hunters = boys oftentimes,
armed with an old musket, as likely as
anyway, loaded with a heavy charge of
buck-shot which scatters just widely
enough to allow hardly anything within
fair range to escape.
On the occasion in question, I was
one OF party who had projected
drive" at the river crossing high up
the French Broad, and the day selected
for the sport found us, after very early
start, quietly waiting at our posts, our
horses tied little ways off in the
bushes at places selected with reference
to their helping somewhat to serve in
turning the game towards the points
where we were waiting for them.
The drive was to be from the oppo-
site side, and it wasn't SO late in the
season but that the mosquitoes were q
great annoyance as sat there listening,
after an hour or so, to the Opening" of
fine pack of hounds who were wind
ing among the hills; but at last was
SO terribly plagued that 1 began enter
ing, in my own mind, upon a regular
discussion whether such sport would
pay" when suddenly the noise of the
hounds seemed to sweep around the
point of ridge on the other side of the
river, and directly fine buck made his
appearance on the bank, and, plunging
In, took to the water, there pretty deep,
and made straight for the place where 1
was ensconsed behind all old log, wait
ing for just such customer. Calamity
he breasted the stream. In his eagerness,
or because his feet might touch ledge
occasionally, he would rise half out of
the water; and, waiting until he was
within half dozen rods of the bank,
blazed away, and over he tumbled in
the water just as the hounds made their
appearance, with loud banks and
yells, on the opposite bank.
Meantime my associates in the
hunt had had three shots at two does,
who crossed further down the shore,
saving one of them; but the grand sue
cess was the magnificent buck, which,
"saddlebagsed " across the shoulders of
a mule In front of contraband along,
enabled us, apart from the doe which
the shooter of it carried on his own
horse. to approach the plantation,
whence the hunt set out, in triumph
since, of all things, no one likes to re-
turn from hunt, especially, to be taunt-
ed with want of success. Deer seem |
capable of real attachment to one. At |
one of my places of sojourn for few
weeks, became quite interested in |
the ways and capers of a |
couple of pet deer, doe and buck,
quite grown and remarkably tame. Not
being much occupied, while awaiting
the results of some surveys, spent a
portion of the time in becoming better
acquainted with these denizens of the
woods. BY always keeping little
loose corn in my pockets and feeding
hem few grains occasionally, they
soon became fast friends of mine, and,
when 1 took book and walked out
rom the house to the shade of the for
sst, they would go along, too; sometimes
by pack of half-dozen
1ounds whom they paid no attention
%, unless to playfully threaten them as
hey capered on their way. Indeed,
hey became SO docile to me that /
could handle them as I pleased, and, if
sat down to read, they would come
md lie down by me, and stay there or
browse about until was ready to re-
urn.
Well, never knew their prowess, at
east that of the male, until one day, q
10Y about 10 years of age, stranger,
lappened to cross his pathway, and
commenced plaguing him. At once he
nut on most ferocious appearance, his
lair all bristling and turning forwards,
nd his eyes rolling in rage and fierce