The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-06-24
METHODS USED or APACHE HUN
TERSlN PURSUING GAME LONG
DieTAnCE9.

"An Apache hunter scOrns 90 IRE
twice 1t the same deer, but IL ID also
hts code that no deer must be per
mitted 20 escape after it has been shot
At and missed, said an old resident Of
the far west b q correspondent Of the
New York Nail and Express. "If
the hunter fails to check his game 1t
the first FIRE, he must run Il down
and be In at the death. And In this
be never falls, for when an Apache
starts on the trail Of q marked deer,
he never leaves it, unless he sustains
an Injury on the way that incapacl-
tates him, until he tires Il out and re-
turns with its carcass 10 his WigWam.
As the deer starts away In its fright
at the sight Of the hunter or the sound
Of the hOrsemah leaping thirty or
forty feet at every bound, and the In
dian throws bis gun on the ground,
and with piercing yells, starts In puF-
suit. The deer It 6rst leaves the
hunter far behlnd-putting forth ils
greatest efforts 10 get far beyond his
reach. But no matter how fast the
deer may reel Off the miles between lt
and its pursaeF, the trail it leaves is as
plain TO the hunter a. if it were
marked In chalk all the way. A deer
b the most tlmid and suspicious of
animals, and at the same time pos
sesses an amazing amount Of euriOsi-
ty. After it has placed distance BE-
tween Itself and the immediate dan
ger from which lt fed It stops and
waits further developments. The
Apache hunter we'll knows this char
aCteristie Of the deer, and he joys
along at q hve-mile-Rn-hOur gait (;
never tagging, never stopping. At
sight or sound Of the approaching
hunter the deer bounds of again 10
run = mile or two and stops again. II
u these halta that are the first fatal
steps. The halts are not long enough
10 give the deer any beneficial rest,
but on the contrary give time for Its
limbs to stiffeu. At each new start
the leaps grow shorter, and the deer
crossing activity. The Indian joys
along on the trail. maintaining q uni
form rate Of speed. He can keep Il
up II necessary, for six hours without
stopping. After two or three hours
running the deer begins 10 look for
water to quenoh its Thirst. When
this stage Of the chase is reached, the
hunter knows that the deer's doom is
sealed. Afler the deer once drinks
there is no hope for Il. It fills its
parehed stomach with Wster, and,
lsdened with q burden, Its leaps grow
still shorter and are made labOriOusly.
IL before drinking the deer made It's
halts ct intervals OF every two miles,
after drinking they are made every
mile.
"An hour or 30 after the deer has
filed It's stomach with water he be-
gins 20 examine the trail more care
fully as he runs, for he knows that it
is then time for him TO find signs Of
the deer's exhaustion. A drop OF
blood here and there along the trail
indicates to the Indian that the deer
has fallen on its knees at those spots
q bunch Of hair hanging TO the edge
OF projecting rock or sharp branch
hanging low aeross the trail proves
that the deer's strength has failed, 30
that Il cannot turn quickly out Of the
way Of obstacles. When these in
fallible signs OF the deer's approach
ing doom are found by the hunter he
increases his speed for the first time.
He soon discovers the game, and with
q yell Of triumph bounds forward.
The cry startles the failing animal 20
. mOmentary burst Of speed. AfteF q
leap or two Il stops. As u aroused to
the fact that further efforts TO escape
were utterly futile, Il turns and faces
lie pursueT with all the defiance its
nature will permit. The
hunter knows the an imal is too weak
to harm him, and he seizes Il boldly,
throws It to the ground, and cuts its
Lhroat.n