The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-30
For the f. & M.-Household.
Extract from Tale of Buck
Forest"

The dogs in concert loudly Jay,
Impatient of the coming fray.
Each eye examines flint and lock.
Lest something mar the fatal shot,
Then mounted on their freshened steeds,
Away, away for sport they speed.
A Luutsman old. who knows full we'll
Each rock, and tree, and darksome dell,
| Whose wOod-craft with unerring skill,
Can find a footpath Ger hill,
Where eyes unskilled, no path car
trace,
And scarce wild cat keep its place.
| He can he iaintest sign descry,
| And tell you when the ''scent will lie
| Can mark where doe her fawn will lead
| And where the iattest buck Will feed,
Where seek his rest on messy hill,
| Or in cool streamiet drink his fill,
Where first his ear will catch the SOUND
| OF huntsman's voice, and baying hound
Where first he'll spring, what course
pursue,
And Just the gap he Will 60 through
| The story old he can recount
OF famous buck on Cedar Mount;
That oft he's started from his bower,
J And chased Tor many merry hour;
How silver bullet he did mould.
And many mystic charm has told,
That he might win the long sought luck,
To kill the enchanted giant buck;
And while the tale he does repeat
Beside the camp-fires glowing heat,
Dispute cold reasons mantle gray,
Each huntsman hopes that buck to slay.
How on this clear, bright antumn day,
Old Graft McGaha" leads the way;
The prince of sports, and judge pro-
found
In matters grave, or speed of hound.
His voice commands the course to fol-
low.
And settles claims for ''Shingle Hol-
low"
Graf" gravelv looks. and deeply wise;
As tho the fate of nations lies
On his next look, or word, or deed.
\ very oracle of huntsmans creed,
In salemn guise his wisdom clothes,
On each some SPECIAL charge bestows :;
And when fol all has marked place,
Dives in the wood to start the chase.
Dne speeds away to Low Gap Dale"
Another seeks the Bridal Veil"
At Triple Fall'' and .Giants Hand, !"
Near, ''Buck-horn Drive and Wildcat
stand.''
At each huntsman bends his ear.
Aud waits the Welcome hounds to hear.
The well trained pack by instinct led,
Follow the old huntsman's stealthy
tread;
And circling round deep, dark dale
Are heard to open on the trail.
soon from his secret lair springs up
In conscious strength, seven plonged
buck,
He sn.ti's the air and waits to hear,
The sound his instinct bids him fear.
Then lightly springing from the place.
Is fairly started in the chase.
High he holds his wen crowned head.
His tail Ike snowy plume is spread
scarce from the fern the dew drops
shakes.
A> up the glen his way he takes;
That step so light, those limbs so fleet.
Vt every bound clear twenty feet.
on far behind he leaves the hounds,
Nor waits again to catch the sound,
Far down the glen the huntsmau hears,
Now rising, thrilling on lis ears,
Echo wildly answering back
The inspiring music of the pack.
Through Laurel thicket, round the hill,
Out 'er the way. across the rill:
tie scorns the huntsmans watchful eve.
As through the gap he seems to flv.
He circling, shuns the 'Wild-cat stand. "
Is safely past the Giants Hand
10 save his BREATH his strength renew.
lie creeps the tangled brush-wood
through;
His branching horns the shrubbery
shake.
His weary foot and fagot breaks,
Unconscious that huntsmau's ear
EXpectant waits the sound to hear;
And as he nears the Triple FALL"
Whiz by his ear a rifle ball.
But ere the sound the silence broke.
lie wheeling springs, at one bold stroke /
He gains the wood. is lost to sight,
As down the dell he flies like light.
And now he nears the Bridal Veil''
" here waits another deadly aim;
But vain the ball that cuts the air;
Again he 'scapes the cruel snare:
Now up the brook with cunning bounds,
To balk the scent of foremost hound,
And then away. with speed increased
lie Spurns the turf beneath his feet.
Round. and around the '.Burnt-top
Ilil,"
Across the river by the mill.
IN. Oh with such elastic bound.
tie scarcely seems to touch the ground.
The huntsman shouts his wild halloo
The dogs pell-mell his track pursue.
The wood with ringing music sounds.
" here brave old Pluto" leads the
hounds;
But ere they cross the limpid stream
Atar that snowy plume is seen;
As down the "Buck-horn Drive" he
goes
And leaves behind his cruel foes.
TO BE CONTINUED.