The Osceola times., 1882-12-02
THE KING OF MARALS.
The Wonderful Leap that Saved His Life
and Won Him q Title,

ana won him bltie.
Two Cossacks were out hunting the ma
rails for two objects. food and antlers.
They had followed the game far up into
the Ala-tau, and had been successful,
sleeping at night near their spoil. The
next morning they started again in pur-
suit, when, after some hours, they found
a magnificent animal, whose horns they
saw were worth l20 roubles (SS5), prize
well worth securing. They hunted him
from one valley TO another, till at last he
retreated TO high, craggy REGION.
His pursuers were not the men TO be
deferred by obstacles They scaled the
rugged height, still following on his
track; whichever way he turned some
slight mark betrayed his path. Late in
the afternoon they caught sight of his
branching horns in deep rent in the
mountain, whose sides were nearly per-
pendicular, while the opposite end term,
mated on the brink of a great precipice
thus preventing all chance of escape.
When they entered the gorge, he rose
from his lair, about three hundred yards
in advance, and started forward among
fallen rocks. They followed rapidly and
gained upon him fast. Having reached
about one hundred PAGES of the end of
the ravine, he stood hesitating, and look
ed back, seeming inclined to double and
make rush to pass them.
From this the Cossacks knew that some
other animals were in the pass. They
did not fire, but gradually approached.
The stag went slowly on, evidently in
fear Having passed some large blocks,
two huge bears sprang out into the rayine
close behind him.
The stag suddenly bounded into the
air to pinnacle of rock standing detach-
ed from the precipice, and leaped across
chasm thirty-three feet wide. One of
the bears, springing after him, plunged
over the cliff, falling more than 400 feet,
thus ending his career. The other stood
on the brink of the chasm growing and
in fearful rage at his disappointment
The hunters advanced, and when they
were within twenty PAGES he stood up
and hove a savage growl of defiance. 1t
was his last one, too, for leaden mes
senger sent him rolling after his compan-
ion.
The maral, in the meantime, stood gaz-
ing at the hunters without showing any
signs of fear, while they admired his
beautiful form and noble horns.
To the honor of the Cossacks, be it
told, he was left in peace, great as was
the temptation TO these i'll paid men.
Within a few PAGES were the coveted
horns, equal in value to the annual pay of
five of their body. The fellows were
however, as good as they were brave.
After noting some peculiar marks on
the animals body by which to recognize
him again, they departed. Retracing
their steps was a most difficult and dam
gerous task, which they had not felt dur
ing the excitement of the chase.
The following day they sought the
bears at the bottom of the precipice, and
to their great delight, they discovered
that the maral had re-leapel the chasm
on to ledge below the brink, and had
escaped.
When the Cossacks joined their com
panions at the piquet, the whole of the
circumstances were related; a correct de-
scription of the maral was given, and
greatly to the credit of these men, he
long remained king of his native wilds.