Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-30
rown. And it amt horse neither"


tiously nearer, and thon, only hunt.
or can imagine the sensations with
which he beheld noble buck lifting its
proud head with its white antlers with.
in fair range Of his gun. Quick as
thought Jack fired and 1t fell.
In whirl Of surprise and delight al
this his first deer, the boy leaped from
his horse and drawing his knife. ran
and set his foot on tho antlers to cut its
throat. But like flash Of lightning
the deer sprang to its feet, knocking
down the knife. Jack grasped him by
one Of his horns, whereupon be made
desperate lunges to get away, while
Jack hung on with all his strength. At
length, thoroughly enragcd, the buck
turned upon his enemy, trying to force
him under his feet. Failing in this he
reared and struck at Jack with his fore
feet, his sharp hoofs tearing his clothes
to rags and inflicting some scratches
upon his chest and arms.
With strength lent by desperation
Jack tried to work his way towards q
tree which stood near, still holding on
to the horn for his life. Presently he
let go and darted towards it. The deer
followed in hot pursuit, striking at him
with his antlers from which he received
several ugly wounds, tho tree being too
small to afford him much protection as
he lodged around 1t.
"Bones, siccem! Here good dog
siccem! sicccmr' Bones had never
been noted for courage, but was stimu-
lated by Jacks cries 10 make an attack
upon the heels of the deer, who quickly
turned upon this new foe, when Bones
dropped his tail between his legs and
beat an inglorious retreat. Jack had
tried to improve the interval by rushing
for his gun, but had barely grasped il
when tho buck again jumped towards
him. He swung himself into tho small
tree where his antagonist stood guard,
while Jack tried to load his gun.
"No-bullets!'' His pouch had been
torn of and lay far beyond reach. As
blow after blow from the horns of the
infuriated animal shook the slender
branches which supported him, the
poor boy began TO wonder II death was
really waiting for him In tllosc lonely
thickets-if this maddened creature,
far more powerful and fleet of limb
than himself, were fated TO beat out his
life here where no help could come in
answer to his call. And his motherl
In fancy he could see her anxious face
looking out for him, and tho thought
that she would surely be sending up
many an earnest prayer for his safety
nerYed him with determination! He
tore button from his coat, which he
rammed down hard upon charge Of
powder, and fired. It had no effect
upon the deer but to render him
angrier than ever, but the button hap.
pened to Craze the skin Of old Racka-
back, who, with toss Of his head and
an astonished snort, started homeward
on full run.
whoa, Rackaback! Whoam cried
Jack, but Rackaback seemed to have
had enough of tho fight, for the last
sound OF his footsteps soon died away
IN the bushes. The change of wind
predicted by Farmer Snow had taken
place some hours before, and an 10y
blast was pouring from the North,
causing Jack to realize his half un'
clothed condition.
There's only one chance for me
that | can see. Now, for mother and
the little ones' With heavy charge
of powder he loaded the gun with hi
ramrUd and again fired ut tho deer
aiming just behind the shoulder.
Tho buck dropped to his knees bu
at once bounded up and again attacked
the tree, then walked away and disap
pearcd among the bushes.
Jack jumped down and ran with al
his might in the direction of Farme
Shows. Darkness was coming on, HI
lost his way moro than once, and !
was late at night when. exhausted with
cold, hunger and fatigue, he almos
fell upon the doorstep.
"Jest like ycT' said the farmer, al
with his wife he gave kindly attention
TO Jacks needs and then listened tC
his story. "Jcst like chap as woult
cross that ere runnin' ice TO 90 for t6
tackle q buck afore he knowet
whether twas dead, or alive and ugly
AwfM ugly them fellers is when they'r,
hit. Now leok-a-here," he laid hi
hand on Jacks shoulder. "Mo ant
you'll go ts,.moFruw and bring that 'er'
buck home"
II don't know whether he's dead.
said Jack. "And anyway I've got ;,
get back over the river somehow witt
this medicine and let mother know
hav'n't been killed forty times.
Farmer Snow laughed.
That's right; but I'll send q bo.
over the river-77ice is runnin' slacke
to-night-and me and you'll CO."
He was as much of q boy as Jack, a
the two mounted the next morning ant
rode to the scene Of the hard-fougll
battle. They followed the trail of tn
deer for a quarter Of a mile and foun,
the magnificent animal lying dead In
pool of blood. t,.'3 'l+t
Here's the ball that first knocke,
him down-struok him just behind
horn," said Jack.
"And, hoorayr' said the farmer
turning over the heavy carcass, ''if her
amt your ramrod-shot in behind th'
shoulder! He bled to death. I'd
given hundred dollars to seen you
cavortin' round with this ERE viii,
deer. Plucky! Well--"hf
1t was weighty load for two horses
goodly taste Of fresh meat for man,
a farmers family around, and lsste'
until the red came into the cheeks 0
the two little ones at home.
The deer-skin rug has since beoI
played over by more than one genera
ton of children, and the huge antler
are still in the hall of Jacks beautiful
prairie home.-Sydney DGyre, in 0h'
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