The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-08-27
TEE PULLASKI CITI1F1N
A Bsrren Deer Hunt in the Deer Barrens.

A BsTren Deer Hunt in the Deer Barrens.
Mounted on impatient chargers,
with horns and hugles blowing and
dogs bowling, about daylight about
a dozen Of the campers at Elkmont
cantered from the stable yard down
the broad, dusty road leading south.
A gallop of nine miles and the
horns were answered in the Jungle
to the right, and Mr.. Sam Harwell
and party joined US. The party di
vided into three squads, one going
into the drive and the others by
different routes to the stands.
Soon all was working charmingly.
The stands were all filled, the dri
vers out in line and hallooing
through the swamp, the dogs yelp-
ing, and once or twice going off in
the long, tuneful howl that tells of
scent of game. The noise came
nearer and then died in the dis
lance, and then it was heard in
new direction and came on and
died away repeatedly until the
whole circuit was made, the horns
sounded the ''call in," and runners
brought in the furthest sentinels.
Not a deer had been seen. Dining
on crab apples and a ride of two
miles for watermelons, and the par
ty returned and repeated the drive
in the afternoon with the same re-
suit
The writer's first deer hunt had
some novel experiences for him.
His horse seemed to be as green in
the saddling business as he was in
deer hunting, travelling two miles
perpendIcularly to one horizontally,
and rushing his knee caps against
saplings with slabsided carelessness.
After bouncing from back to pom
mel until his bouncer was bunged
up like rizefghter's face, be sill
led from his horse on log at his
stand and offered up thanks that
)ne end of him was still spared.
The relief moved off through the
brush to place the next man and
,he writer settled back against his
rec to slap gnats and watch ants
crawl out of knotsshoies, never expect
ng to see his friends alive again.
The firsts bugle note admOnished
aim that he came there Tor bigger
game than gnats and he happily I
thought of a gun that some one s
had placed in his hands early in the I
morning, ande xamlning it closely I
% see which end was hollow, he
set his ear to catch the cracking of
wigs that should betoken the ap-
1roach of deers and things. After |
what seemed to have been about
,hree weeks a noise approached, :
md grabbing up a large stick he :
started out TO run the deer down or
beat him to death. But it was a
'unner to tell him to come in. 1
Same thing in the afternoon, ex-
,ept that all the fun was heaped In
lpon an empty stomach that was :
and yawning and would
lot be comforted on crabs :;
After another six months of dread !!
al suspense and primeval lone =
,omeness, the runner gathered us
u again and nine mile charge
vas made on the springs. Again :
We were tossed from pillar to post :
the pillar is only flgurative) hurled /
rom pummel to crupper, and jolted
md twisted and mangled and
kinned by the long jiggerty-jogger i
y, swaylng, surging motion IF the
lorse. The gun began to get L
leavy, and after both shoulders \
we're swelled up so big it wouldn't q
ay on them, and our hands had d
ost grip and it wouldn't lay still in a
ront, it began to get heavier, and
Don weighed ton and then got to (
,e a saw-log. just as we had con
luded to die, the. springs hove in g
light, and the horse came down to
jog and the gun lay still on the L
lorn-and four negroes helped us d
Town. When we came to we regis
cred q VOW in red ink and big let d
ers. No use to repeat it, Well
however, that so far as we :
ire interested, the deer may multi
,ly and lreplenish the earth until
he woods won't hold them and still d
De safe.
All he bounce has about I'M
iwelled. :