St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-23

thlcket through which were scattered
some trees of scrub oak. He wandered
about this for some time but without
chance for shot, and was about to
give up and turn homewards- when q
cracking branch at some little hNtance
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 animsf.
Cow? no it can't be cow-its TOO
brown. And it ain't q horse neither"
he held his breath as he drew ctlsG-
tiously nearer, and-then, only hunt
er can imagine the sensations WITH
which he beheld noble back lifting it's
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 its
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 intlicting some scratches
upon his chest and arms.
With strength lent by desperation
Jack tried to work his way towards q
two ,oh cto hn1
to the horn for his life. Presently he
let go and darted 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! siccemn' 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 theinterval 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.
'sNo-bullets!'' His pouch had been
torn off and lay far beyond reach. AS
blow after blow from the horns of the
Infatuated 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 feet of limb
than himself, were fated to beat out his
life here where no help could come in
answer to his call. And his mother!
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 a button from his coat, which he
down hard upon a charge of
powder, and fired. 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-
back, who, with toss of his head and
an astonished snort started homeWard
on a full run.
There's only one chance for me
that | can see Now, for mother and
the little onesr' With heavy charge
of powder he loaded the gun with his
and again fired ats 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-
noarad amOnp 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 cncev and it
was late at night when, exhausted with
cold, hunger and fatigue he almost
fell upon the doorstep.
"Jest like ye!' said she farmer, as
with his wife he gave kindly attention
to Jacks needs and then listened to
his story. ''Jest like a shap as would
cross that ere runnin' ice to go for to
tackle buck afore he knoWed
whether twas dead, or alive and ugly.
AsgfM ugly them fellers iswhen they're
hit. Now leek-a-here,n he' laid his
hand on Jacks shoulder. '@Mc and
you'll 90 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 Win
this medicine and les mother know L
hay'n't been killed forty times.
Farmer Snow laughed.
s'That' > right; but .I'n send boy
over the iiver-ice is rEnnin' Stacker
to-night-and me and yoa'll 60"
, He as,as much Of boy as Jack. as
the two mounted the next morning and
rode to- the scene, of the hard-fought
battle. They followed the trail of the
deer for quarter~of a mile and found:
h 1,,sr,r IaoH IN a