The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-10

SSaP'N'oy, VI WHICH, IloWSSef, L WAS
not long to remain unnindful. The
look of contempt that greeted me as |
turned to Uncle John whithered me.
You'll never kill deer! Never see
such a chance since | was born; not
ten yards off. Pooh!" And the irate
old hunter rode off, leaving me to fol
low or go back, as chose.
/ have been mortified sew veral times
in my recollection; have been "spelled
down." as a child in school, have
missed the target in archery tourna-
ments, and have been snubbed by a
prospective mother-ln.law; but never
do | remember that my pride Was so
lacerated us now. The sunshine sud
denly lost it's brightness, the fresh,
fragrant stiffness WAS no longer de-
light, and desperate thoughts flashed
through my brain OF putting an end
to my wretched existence.
AT last determined that instead of
returning home to brood over my sor-
row, would strike Off by myself into
the woods, and redeem my reputation
by taking home at night some trophy
OF my skill.
The soothing sunshine and delicious
air by degrees restored my equanimity,
and hope was high in my bosom. |
scanned all the ravines closely, and
looked wisely on the ground for tracks
of beasts. ] rode long and far, and
when the sun was high threw myself
beside IL little spring that bubbled
from the rocks. and ate my luncheon,
allowing my horse to Craze near me.
ht tnI, <>E
green herbage, across which the tall
pines cast q sombre shadow There
was not a sound except that OF the
horse feeding. / was too high for birds;
they We're below in the valleys, though
now and then a vulture sailed maiesti-
cally around some distant peak. The
loneliness and silence OF the place be-
gan to be oppressive.
Suddenly there was O. rustic in the
tall grass under the pines. Looking
up saw the head OF a deer l seized
my rifle, and, leveling it, fired with u
steady hand. A deaiening report
crashed through the stiffness, and
there escaped into the air white
deer! / sprang to the place. In the
bloodstained grass lay the noble an
l felt u thrill ofseperstitious horror;
something as an old Egyptian must
have felt had he killed unwittingly the
sacred ibis, or the Ancient Mariner
when he slew the albatross. | tried
to staunch the blood, but the mur-
derous ball had done it's work too
well. Hardly knowing what did,
took the head of the dying creature
into my lap. In the large soft eyes
were reflected the rocks and the sway
ingplnes. AS the breath grew fainter the
head turned with a conSulsive move
ment, and the fast glazing eyes looked
into mine with q gaze so human in its in
telligence that was almost crazed with
grief and terror. | hurried from the
spot, only TO find that my horse, prob
ably frightened by the riHe-shot had
disappeared. was alone and miles
rom home.
| discovered, too, that lacked one
OF the most necessary requisites OF the
true hunter-ability to find my way
under all circumstances.
1t was already afternoon. l start
ell to 20 back on foot the way had
come as nearly as | could remember
it. When ] reached u point high
enough to command q view | did not
teelreassured, for the mountains look
ed all alike, and range after range
stretched away on every side, silent
and relentless as the tomb. There was
not living thing in sight but buz-
zard clrcling about a faroff peak.
At last set off in direction where
| thn,1yh ranorniyaI 10
The killing OF the white hart weighed
heavily upon my spirits, and filled me
with vague fears. The stories OF the
night before added to my uneasiness.
There was the danger that | might
meet a bear. l had my rifle and three
dozen cartridges in my belt, but Uncle
John had said: "Give grizzlies wide
BERTH
What could do if / met one?
The way grew more and more in
tricate. Now l had to climb over
powders, and now force my way
through tangled under.growth, from
which | emerged into the shadow OF
pines so gloomy that twilight seemed
suddenly to have fallen.
There was q crashing OF bushes, as
OF some heavy body pushing itself
through. tried to run, but the
roughness OF the ground made me
stumble at every step.
The noise came nearer. Iknew that
it could be nothing but bear, and
every other anxiety was swallowed up
in present terror. | remembered that
grizzlies do not climb unless the tree
is neither too large nor too small.
Ten yards to the left stood q slen-
der tree. with trunk clear for fifteen
feet.
sprang toward it, and although I
had never been able to climb tree be-
fore, climbed now withouta a moment
OF hesitation, and scrambled to seat
among the branches. l shook SO
violently that / had to hold on by
main force to keep from falling. Ihad
been there probably thirty seconds
when there shutiled from the bushes,
With awkward but impressive gait, q
monstrous grizzly bear.
l had dropped my gun in the excite
ment, and even had kept it l should
not have dared to fire. AS the great
beast shambled along saw that he
was lame. 1t was old Clubfoot, the
terror and autocrat ofthe mountains.
He was headed directly for my tree.
My blood curaled and my breath stop
ped. have no distinct recollection
of the nextfew seconds. Heapproach-
ed within ten feet of my hiding place,
rolling his heavy head from side to
side as if aware of an unseen Zoe. Then
he passed on and was lost among the
trees.
remained motionlessf for nearly an
hour fearing to descend. Then crept
noiselessly in the direction whence old
Clubfoot had come. My rifle, which
must havefallen against the prostrate
trunk by which found it, was broken
short off at the bfeech, the bear hay-