Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-21
TWO FOREST MONARCHS.
RIVAL BUCKS FIGHT A TERRIBLE
 BATTLE TO THE DEATH.

Il witnessed a singular sight not long since," said Gerald Whitney to an Ex- aminer man who had asked him some questions relative to stalking deer.
 There were several of us who had been back in the CuynrAacas deer hunt ing for ten days and we had pretty good sport. Late one afternoon wandered | off from the camp alone, my thoughts causing me to stroll aimlessly through | the scrub pine and down into the. valley near little stream where several days before we had killed fine buck and doe that had come to their usual watering place. 1 had no thought of hunting l when 1 left the camp, and had no arms with me save my hunting knife. a valua- ble Price, which was made for my father some years since in this city, Near the stream spoke of moment ago | there is grassy plot of about three or trees that would do Calaveras proud | grow in and around this little marsh and form a sort of natural rendezvous for the | numbers of deer that inhabit certain sec | tions of Lower California.
 PRETTY GROUP INVADED.
 II came to this spot, and. stepping down, took a long draught of water While l had my head bent down in the stream l caught the impatient stamp of feeding deer, and heard the unmistakable | little wheezy cough they sometimes give
 while eating. Cautiously withdrew be- | hind one of the large trees in my close neighborhood and stole glance over in the direction of the sound. There were three does, a peg buck and the batter fla millas, with pair of antlers that made my huntsman's instinct almost too strong
 to keep me quiet. 1 crouched behind the tree and took off my hat, divided be- tween interest in their movements filled with quick impetuous grace-ald
 my desire to communicate with the 1 camp in some manner. l very sensibly concluded that as they were browsing l over ln my direction, any movement l on my part would simply stampede them, and 1 satisfied myself as we'll as could in observing their movements.
 The sun was just about setting, and its last rays were falling full in the en- trance to the valley, when there loped into sight another buck. equal in every point save of attendance to the fat fel- low had been admiring. Buck number one stood rigid and erect as he came in sight, and blew out on the still air a snort of defiance that checked number two, who had not seen him, almost as etfectually as if 1 had turned loose my AS rifle on him. He stopped perfectly still, slightly thrown back on his launches, | viewed the situation a moment with a sort of mild inquiry; gradually raised his head, until finally his antlers nearly touched his smooth back: then lowered 1t quickly almost to the ground, ierked 1t up with splendid contempt. and blew back an answering snort of defiance.
 "The does gathered close together and 1 SfS Ic ~f at the intruder, who, with lowered sconce, advanced toward his challenger. felt my pulses tingling at these signs of combat, as l felt pretty sure there was going to be a fight. Number one stood his ground as number two advanced, until he was within about twenty paces, then he stepped out on the plane of battle. bristling like wild boar As he stepped out the intruding buck paused for while to measure his foe. They gazed at each other angrily for a mo- ment, and then made a mutual rush.
 coming together with a shock that made the little valley ring with its force. | almost imagined that some occult force | had separated them, for they fell on | their knees fifteen good paces apart. They did not remain in that position long. They were up and at it again in trice They fought with a | ferocity that have never seen euualed. could hear every lick as it was deliv- cred, sometimes on the side, sometimes on the rump, and when a lick was par ried on the horns it sounded like drop ping a load of fish bars on a stone pavement. Such vicious lunges you never saw. The velvety coats were torn and ripped from withers to trump, and blood was running from side, as well as | mouth and nostrils. Down would go head, and an upper cut would fall prone | upon the stomach that l thought must be fatal. Bang would go whole forest 1 of horns into side, and number one or two would fall upon the ground, while quick as lightning the up deer would slash at his fallen adversary with his sharp front teeth, cutting like knife. NCONSTANT DOES.
 'The does and the peg stood by as immovable as the big trees, save now and then they would open their lips and give q piteous bleat as their champion would get worsted in the fight. Buck number two fought with a grim deter imitation, to show that the odds of favor from being in the presence of his ad- versary's harem-should not count against him. Back and forth waged the contest; now there would be Hull as they locked horns for breathing spell,
 
 flash into each other from beneath their intertwining antlers. Now they would break apart, then a lunge, and now a vicious counter. The fight waged for twenty minutes, when suddenly buck number two, the intruder. got in long, vicious dig that tore his adversary we'll across the side. He fell with pitiful cry of distress, and number two stood over him for few moments, then made several cuts in his already bleeding side, and, turning, walked over to his pros trate eneny's family.
 "They licked his wounds as tenderly as if he, the victor, had always been their lord and master, instead of the murderer os their long while guardian and friend.
 'I was so indignant that I drew my
 knife and made a senseless rush for the victorious buck, causing the whole herd so scatter in wild fright. l stopped over the poor, bleeding victim and relieved his sutferings with my sharp Price in seconds time
 "The next day, when we examined bim, all that was worth saving was his magnificent set of antlers, containing sixteen prongs, and they today, in his fathers parlor. form source of wonder