The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21

| one ABOVE. Ineee HlternhtlnS btbbcks
were kept up until both were well tired,
or the doe successfully struck one of
them, when they would retreat to gain
their breath or straighten out their dis
heveled feathers How long they had
been contending was, of course, only
conjecture, but all of them looked tired
out.
"Well, Lieutenant" said the guide,
after the first battle had ended with the
does success, Eve might just as well rope
in that small tod for its just mere
matter o. time when them birds will get
it il they have made up their minds to
have it for breakfast" So we trotted
carefully over the nearest ridge, and
from there, in a short, sharp dash, soon
had the little tod in our possession, but
confess it was somewhat at the expense
of my better feelings, for the mother had
made a most heroic defense so far, al
though the guide continued to insist that
to leave it was to leave it to the eagles
and not to its mother, and he knew the
habits of the beasts and birds of the
plains unusually well.
The doe eagerly watched our proceed
ings from the top OF ridge near by, Of
fering splendid shot at about hun
dred and fifty yards distance, but I would
not allow the guide or myself to take adj
vantage of an opportunity prompted by
such feeling. In q few minutes she trot-
ted away, and 1 really believe she was
glad that the eagles, at least, had not
been the captors.
The little fawn got tame very fact, and
by the time he had been fed once or
twice he became friendly with all. and
especially SO attached to the soldier who
fed him that he was allowed to sleep with
him, curling upon the blanket near by
and licking his protectors hand when
ever he patted him on the head.
While returning home during the next
two days we, did not confne the little fell
low in the crate, but allowed him to curl
up on the clothing and bedding in one of
the wagons and sleep and rest as much
as he wanted to. During our rests-for
cavalry on the march go ahead for one
or two hours and then rest for ten to
| twenty minutes-we allowed him out Of
the wagon, and he would go to any one
that attracted his attention, sucking the
mans thumb and butting at it in the
most comical way. Even when march
ing we put him down alongside the
wagon and he followed us, bleating pit
eously and evidently much more fearful
| of losing us than he had been of having
us catch him day or two before. But
we wereso afraid that he would get kicked
by some irritable horse or mule, and his
cries were SO plaintive that we did not
try it but once.
When igot back to the post took
him to my own house to raise, named him
"Joker," and gave him to understand
that he must make himself at home, an
assurance which he must have fully COM
pretended, as he certainly did make him
self at ease at once, driving away all
consequences with his tricks and mis-
chief.
For the first two or three weeks of his
life he spent much OF his time hiding in
the tall grass that grew under row OF
willows planted along ditch running
through my yard. Here it was almost
impossible to find the little scamp, and
SO securely did he hide that once or
twice I had given up the search, think
ing he was lost. but il got the milk-bot-
tie and held it aloft he would reveal HIM
self.
He was very quick to learn tricks, and
had him perform number, the reward
for which was usually a lump of sugar.
My house, or quarters" as they are
termed by army people, had a wide porch
in front nearly fifty feet long. Joker
was very fond of sugar, and would do
anything for lump or two, 80 l used to
make him stand upon his b ind-feet and
walk the whole length of the porch for
each lump, holding it three or four in
ches from his nose and backing out as
he walked forward. At first l could
only get him to rise up to get the sugar,
then he learned to take step or two
forward, and finally he would walk the
whole length OF the porch. From this as
start he soon learned number Of other
tricks.-Harper's Young People.