The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-22

olear, rapid waters OF Stony brook.
We sat down to rest in the deep shade
Of q clump of pines. and to arrange our
for the sport which We
promised ourselves in following the
brook to its mouth The Captain looked
st his watch.
"Nine o'clock, precisely, my boy.
You see that when l arrange pro-
grammes, l know upon what data l
calculate. All this region is as familiar
to me as the soil which cultivate around
my own buildings Ihave been over it a
hundred times. f" "'f
"But you don't mean to say that
am not to kill single deer while you
kill half a dozen, Captain? Your pro-
gramme has gone very well thus far,
but ! will see that 1t Is altered In some
particulars yet. I"
II have never known the instance of
a boy like yourself killing deer the
first day of hunting. Very likely the
thing has been done, but only in re-
markable cases.. The excitement is al
ways too much for the nerves"
l looked around as ! heard dis
'turbance of the brush behind us.
though ! saw nothing at first, as the
growth OF saplings was quite thick,
and the ground sloped downward to-
wards the north Of the'pond. mo
ticed, however, that Captain Whitney
arose very calmly, cooked his rife,
steadied 1t against one OF the pines,
sighted over the barrel for moment
and then as coolly unlocked it, and
whispered to me:
"You see how strong the impulse is
in an old hunter to make sure of bis
game, without even being civil to COM
pany. Look here. There is as hand
some shot as you will get in year.
Shoot him through the shoulders.
looked in the direction in.
Dictated, and saw the broad
side of a buck, about ten rods
distant. He was standing perfectly
still, in listening attitude, and though
l was aware of considerable excitement
as raised my rife, yet felt as sure
Of my game as though my knife were
already letting loose the fountain o.
his blood. l fired, and the buck leapeG
away, frightened but unhurt.
lis that possibler' exclaimed.
"Precisely according to the pro
gramme, you see. Now, if you viii
walk to the spot, will show you tina
you shot four feet over his body"
The ball had lodged in tree, an(
an examination showed that the Cap
tain was right. ... %
"But know pretty well, however
where to get another shot at the ami
NAL. We will leave our trapping
here, as we shall not be absent NOR
than an hour. Follow me-"
This was arrangement of the pro
gramme-a arrangement which WI
both had cause to regret ere the ho'
sun of another evening led us to on
supplies again. ~ h
| We went into the woods, reached
the place where Captain Whitne.
hoped to get another shot at the deer
startled him again, followed fur
Their and further into the forest
climbed hills, crossed swamps, SWEET
cred on and on, talking but little, an,
neither enjoying it in the least fol
lowed the Captain in the most implicit
faith, and he went on, hoping to NEE
with some familiar object which woul'
put him on the track again.
In the meantime the morning o
promise had given way to a day O
clouds. The sun which shone so hotl
but an hour before, was now, hid be
hind the cloudy vapor. We were with
out a compass, and without a guild
of any description. 1t was clever
o'clock when we sat down to rest.
''We are lost, my boy!"
The Captain spoke with perfect cool
II have been thinking it likely tina
such was the case this hour" l re
piled.
My words did not express all that
felt, for | did not like to acknowledge
to Captain Whitney all the emotion
that moved my soul. Twas, moreover
excessively tired and already faint wit
hunger. My life at school had bee
but poor preparation for the hardship
of the forest.
1T is something of a mystery. an
yet not much Of mystery, either
There is beaten track with which
am perfectly familiar. Once out c
that, and the sun covered with cloud.
and l am as much stranger in th
great forest as yourself.''
Here was poor comfort Especial
to me, who knew nothing of meetin
dangers and bearing burdens. W
killed some small game, ate our dir
ners and went on again. notice
that the Captain was very careful i
choosing the direction as we started
and very careful during the entire af
ernoon to maintain that direction
Lost though we were, he was too niue
of hunter to travel in q circle. 81
while the clouds thickened over on
heads, we made such progress as "
could over the rough ground, throug
the tangled underbrush, over the so
surface of swamps, and through u
great forestin such aspects as it presen
ed itself. When darkness came, "
gathered such material as we coul,
built fire and lay down upon Il
ground to sleep. The situation W,
not entirely new one to the Captain
and in ten minutes after he stretche
, himself upon the moss, he was breatl
: ing heavily, and sleeping soundly.
. For myself, though l was wol
, beyond any thing that had expel
, enced before in my life, and though
, coaxed my eyelids and nerves Ii
t midnight, l found no sleep.
, opened my eyes, and found the moo
rays stealing through the branches
the trees. replenished the fire, ar
looked around me.