Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-12-18

my bosom. | scanned all the ra
vines closely, and looked wisely on
the ground for the tracks of beasts
| rode long and far, and when the
sur was high threw myself beside .
little spring that dubbed from the
rocks, and ate. my luncheon, allow.
ing my horse to Craze near me. On
my right was small patch Of green
heritage, across which the tall pines
cast q somber shadow. There was
not sound except that ofthe birds;
they were below in the valleys,
though now and then vulture sail
ed majestically around some distant
peak. The loneliness and silence OF
the place began to be oppressive.
Suddenly there was a rustlei ! he
tall grass uuder the pines. LooKing
up j saw the head ofa deer. / seiz-
ed my rife, and, leyeling it, fred
with a steady hand. A deafening
report crashed through the stiffness,
and there leaped into the air white
deer! sprang to the place. IN
the bloodstained grass lay the noble
animal, struggling with death.
felt thrill Of superstitious hor
ror--somethlng as an old Egyptian
must have felt had he killed unwit-
tingly the sacred ibis. or the Ancient
Mariner when he slew the alhatross
/ tried to stanch the blood, but the
murderous ball had done its 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 swaying pines. As the breath
grew fainter the head turned with a
convulsive movement, and the fast
glazing eyes looked into mine with
a gaze so human in its intelligence
that 1 was almost crazed with grief
and terror. Hurried from the spot,
only to find that my horse, probably
frightened by the rifle shot, had dis
appeared. | was alone and miles
from home. I discovered, too, that
| lacked one of the most necessary
requisites of the true hunter--ability
to find my way under all circum
stances.
1t was already afternoon. / start
ed to go back on foot the way / had
come as nearly as I could remember
it. When | reached a point high
enough to command view / did not
feel treasured, for the mountains
looked all alike, and range after
range stretched away on every side
silent and relentless as the tomb
There was not a living thing in sight
but buzzard circling about a faI
off peak. At last set off in a direc-
ton where ] thought / recognized
familiar rocks. The killing of the
white hart weighed heavily upon my
spirits, and filled me with vague
fears. The stories of the night be-
fore added to my uneasiness. There
was the danger that / might meet a
bear. l had my rifle and three doz-
en- cartridges in my belt. but Uncle
John had said !; 'Giv gerizzlies wide
berth
What could | do if l met oneY
The way grew more and more in
tricate. Now L had to climb over
powders, and now force my way
through tangled underground, from
which / emerged into the shadow Of
pines SO gloomy that twilight seem
ed suddenly to have fallen.
There was 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 I knew
that it could be nothing but bear
and every other terror was swal
lowed up in present terror. re
membered that grizzlies do not clint
unless the tree is neither too large
nor too small. Ten yards to the