Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-03-03


thousand feet distant, upon o
smooth, grassy slope. There was
not the slightest covering to pro-
tect an approach, and began to
debate with myself upon the course
to pursue. Should l initiate the
call of one of their number in dis
tress There was something so
inhuman in that, that revolted at
the thought, and took the consola-
ton that no true hunter would de-
scend to such meanness.
Should l tie my red handker-
chief upon my ramrod and take
advantage of their curiosityl They
were too shy.
Alb! an idea struck me. My
eye suddenly rested upon a blush
line running across the prairie be-
yond where the animals were feed
ing. 1t was either buffalo road
or the channel of an arroyo; but
whichever it was, it was the very
cover wanted, and l determined
to take immediate advantage OF it.
Retreating as steadily from the
thicket as had entered it, l hurried
along the side of the slope toward
a point where had observed that
the ridge was depressed to the
level of the plain. Reaching this,
to my still greater surprise, l found
myself on the banks of broad
arroyo, whose water slowly meand-
cred over bed of sand and gyp-
sum.
The banks were two or three
feet above the surface of the stream
except where the ridge came down
upon the stream. Here there was
quite a high bluff and hurrying
around its base, stepped into the
channel and commenced wading
upward.
This was quite difficult feat, as
the bed of the creek was soft and
yielding, and was obliged to tread
very cautiously and slowly, lest
should alarm the game. The an
telope is one of the most timid Of
animals, and has a wonderfully
acute sense of hearing-so much
$50, that none but the most exper'
fenced hunters can approach them
After creeping along in this
wearisome manner for several hun
dred yards, l reached small clumE
of NORWOOD bushes growing ont
of the bank. Thinking this might
be high enough to answer for COW
err, l concluded to take advantage
Of it.
/ slowly raised myself up and
peered through the leaves. l hao
just reached the right place, ant
sighting at the heart of the buck
/ pulled the trigger. The brute
sprang up and dropped dead.
was on the point Of running for
ward to claim the prize, when
saw the doe run up to its faller
mate, and snuff at it as if bewild'
cred at the occurrence. Suddenly
she seemed to comprehend the sac
truth, and throwing back her head
began uttering the most plaintiv'
and piteous cries, while she occa
sionally ran round the body as !
totally unable to control her grief.
At first it was not my intention
to kill the doe, and had dreamed
of witnessing such painful scene
| should not have done so. How
often do we hunters, in the excite
ment of the chase, commit deed
which, in our calmer moments, W
can see as heartless and cruel
But the deed was done past recall
and wherefore regretl
AS / watched the mournful &C
tions of the doe, and heard its pit
eous cries, / saw that it would be
mercy to kill it and end its miser!
Actuated by what perhaps was
questionable humanity, l took
careful aim, pulled the trigger, ant
as the smoke cleared away, di
cerned the doe lying dead with i
head resting upon its departe
mate.
"Both are out Of Distress" VS.
my comforting reflection, "and
have secured a rare supper, wit
which / will tickle the palates
my two friends, and convince the
that they are not the only on
! who have a knowledge Of huntir
! but what is the meaning of this
} 1 attempted to move, and -four
: both feet fast. My first thoug