Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-30

climbed the ridge and emcrgea, ac-
cording to the programme. upon the
clear, rapid waters OF Stony brook.
| We sat down to rest in the deep shade
OF clump of pines. and to arrange our
fishing-taekle for the sport which we
promised ourselves in following the
brook to its mouth. The Captain looked
at his watch.
mine o'clock, precisely, my boy.
You see that when l arrange pro-
grammes, / know upon what data l
calculate. All this region is as familiar
tc me as the soil which cultivate around
my own buildings. Ihave been over it a
hundred times"
But you don't mean to say that
am not to Kill a single deer while you
kill half dozen, Captain? Your pro-
gramme has gone very we'll thus far,
but will see that 1t is altered in some
particulars yet"
Il have never known the instance of
boy like yourself killing a 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 a 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 rifle,
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 his
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
was aware of considerable excitement
as raised my rifle, vet felt as sure
of my game as though my knife were
already letting loose the fountain of
his blood. l fired, and the buck leaped
away, frightened but unhurt.
is that possible!" l exclaimed.
Precisely according to the pro-
gramme, you see. Now, if you will
walk to the spot, will show you that
yon shot four feet over his body"
The ball had lodged in a tree, and
an examination showed that the Cap
tain was right.
''But l know pretty well, however,
where to get another shot at the ami
NAL. We will leave our trappings
here, as we shall not be absent more
than an hour. Follow me-"
This was arrangement of the pro-
gramme-a arrangement which we
both had cause to regret ere the hot
sun of another evening led us to our
supplies again.
We went into the woods, reached
the place where Captain Whitney
hoped to get another shot at the deer,
startled him again, followed fur
Their and further into the forest,
climbed hills, crossed swamps, swelt-
cred on and on, talking but little, and
neither enjoying it in the least. 1 fol-
lowed the Captain in the most implicit
faith. and he went on, hoping to meet
with some familiar object which would
put him on the track again.
In the meantime the morning of
promise had given way to a day of
clouds. The sun which shone so holly
but an hour before, was now hid be-
hind the cloudy vapor. We were with
out a compass, and without 4 guide
of any description. 1t was eleven
O'Clock when we sat down to rest.
1--WE are lost, my boy!'
The Captain spoke with perfect cool
ness.
II have been thinking it likely that
such was the case this hour" l re-
piled.
My words did not express all that 1
felt, for l did not like to acknowledge
to Captain Whitney all the emotions
that moved my soul. Twas, moreover,
excessively tired and already faint with
hunger. My life at school had been
but poor preparation for the hardships
of the forest.
1T is something of a mystery, and
yet not much of mystery, either.
There is a beaten track with which
am perfectly familiar. Once out of
that, and the sun covered with clouds,
and l am as much a stranger in this
great forest as yourself"
Hers was poor comfort. Especially
to mo. who knew nothing of meeting
dangers and bearing burdens. We
killed slime small game, ate our din
ners aid went on again. l noticed
that the Captain was very careful in
choosing the direction as we started,
and very careful during the entire aft
ernoon to maintain that direction.
Lost though we were, he was too much
of hunter to travel in a circle. So,
while the clouds thickened over our
heads, We made such progress as we
could over the rough ground. through
the tangled underbrush, over the soft
surface of swamps, and through the
great forest in such aspects as it present
ed itself. When darkness came, we
gathered such material as we could,
built fire and lay down upon the
ground to sleep. The situation was
not entirely new one to the Captain.
and in ten minutes after he stretched
himself upon the moss. he was breath
| ING heavily. and sleepinU SOundly,