The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-04-10

kltS WITHOUT mOrSei On ooAnoeiuS AVa
'em to taste besides ccrn-meal and
beans and bacon. do beh eve 'twouid'
do 'em more good than all the medi.i
cine," he said, as he rounded Ihe head
OF slough, and struck into . hazel
thicket through which were scatt> ered
some trees of scrub oak He wanderN' u
about this for some time but without .,
chance for a shot, and was about to
give up and turn homewards, when 6
cracking branch at some little distance
attracted his attention. And his very
heart stood still as through an OPEN
ing in the bushes he caught sight OF
the hairy hide Of some large animal.
"CowP no it can't be cow-its too
brown. And it amt horse neither"
he held his breath as he drew eau
tiously nearer, and then, only hunt
er 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 it fell.
In whirl of surprise and delight at
this his first deer, the boy leaped from
his horse and drawing his knife, ran.
and set his foot on the antlers to cut it's
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 he made
desperate lunges to get away, while
Jack hung on with all his strength. At
length, thoroughly enraged, 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 a.
tree which stood near, still holding on
to the horn for his life. Presently he'|
let 60 and daried towards it. The deer
followed in hot pursuit, striking at him
with his antlers from which he received
several ugly wounds, the tree being too
small to afford him much protection as
he lodged around it.
"Bones, siccem! Here good dog
siccem! siccem!'' Bones had never
been noted for courage, but was stimu-
lated by Jacks cries TO 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 it
when the buck again jumped towards
him. He swung himself into the small
tree where his antagonist stood guard.
while Jack tried to load his gun.
s'No-bulletsr' His pouch had been
torn off 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 if death was
really waiting for him in these 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 i'm
answer to his call. And his motherr
In fancy he could see her anxious face
looking out for him, and the thought
that she would surely be sending up
many an earnest prayer for his safety
nerved him with determination! He!
tore q button from his coat, which he
rammed down hard upon charge Of
powder, and fred. 1t 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-i
back, who, with toss of his head and
an astonished snort, started homeward
on full run.
whoa, Rackaback! WhOaT" cried
Jack, but Rackaback seemed to have
had enough of the 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 icy
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 be loaded the gun with his
ramrod and again fired at the deer,
aiming just behind the shoulder.
The buck dropped to his knees but
at once bounded up and again attacked
the tree, then walked away and disap-
peared among the bushes.
Jack jumped down and ran with all
his might In the direction of Farmer
Shows. Darkness was coming on, he
lost his way more than once, and it
was late at night when. exhausted with
cold, hunger and fatigue, he almost
fell upon the doorstep.
"Jest like YER said the farmer, as
with his wife he gave kindly attention
to Jacks needs and then listened to-
his story. jest like chap as would
cross that ere runnin' ice TO- go for to,
tackle a buck afore he knowed
whether twas dead, or alive and ugly.
Ascful ugly them fellers is when they're
hit. Now look-a-here," he laid his
hand on Jacks shoulder. ''Mc and
you'll go tomorrow and bring that ere
buck home.
Il don't know whether he's Dead"
said Jack. ''And anyway I've got to
get back over the river somehow with