San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-16
In NAMES FORESTS.
ONE OF CRABTREE'S HUNTING AO-
VENTURES TWENTY YEARS AGO.
A Poor Old Porcupine Causes Great Con-
sternation-A Ride on a Deer's Back
The Missing Horse-How Young Tom
Shot the Goliath of Bucks.

The very ground was plowed by the sharp
boots of moose and deer. We found an old
camp. somewhat dilapidated; but after few
hours work had fitted up very good home
and were careful to make the door bear proof
We were so weary with our days work that
wedid not look for deer that day. We re-
tired early, and were soon in the land Of
dreams. How long we slept do not know.
but was awakened by my friend shaking me
and whispering, Something is trying to
get in the camp"
listened and was convinced that it was
even so We arose and prepared to defend
ourselves. We crept softly to the door and
could plainly hear the sharp teeth of some
animal cutting away on the door ! put my
ear close to the door and could plainly hear
him breathe We both were little startled
and think MY friend was very frightened
We at last concluded that the rate at which
he was tearing at the door would soon tear il
down, and we decided to fire through the
door and if possible wound him 81 badly
that he would leave. We pointed oar rifles,
as near as we could judge to the right spot
and fired We imagined we heard the long
leaps Of some animal and all was still.
TWO THINGS TO LAUGH AT.
We decided that one should watch while
the other slept, and two hours should be the
time for each. took my turn first, and on
receiving strict injunction from my friend
to awake him on hearing the least noise, |
placed myself at the door, rifle in hand. My
friend was soon snoring, and concluded that
while he slept we should be safe from intru
sion. We took our turns as agreed, but
heard nothing, and it was certainly the long
est night | ever knew We had eaten our
breakfast by the time that daylight had ap
peared Putting new caps on our tubes, we
prepared to open the camp door. This took
Us some time, for my friend had piled every
thing In the camp against it, for he seemed
bound 10 make faith and works tell When
the rubbish was removed we saw two holes
blown through the door, for we put the muz
Zlcs of our rifles so near that the blaze had
followed the bullets. We pulled the door
carefully open, and there at the door we saw
our intruder, lying dead!
poor old porcupine with both his eyes
blown out!
We of course tried to charge the folly to
each other; but the truth was we both were
ashamed of that nights vigils We finally
agreed to tell the affair to no one for ten
years at least, and then went on our way to
try our luck.
The ground was frozen, and we could not
move along without making great deal of
noise. We saw deer every few minutes: bu,
they were all on the leap After we had
bcen out about half an hour, large buck
sprung from behind bunch of bushes He
was not more than sixty feet from us; bu;
before we could bring our rifles to bear Oil
h.Ny, th,% So. both
pulled, my friends rifle snapped but mine
went and the buck went too; he dropped As
suddenly as if he had struck solid rock
My friends "hurrah" showed that he was
very much excited; he dropped his rifle, Out
with bis knife and ran for the deer. con-
sidered the deer safe, therefore commenced
reloading my ride. l saw my friend jump
astride of the deer and seize him by the horn,
and the next moment the deer sprung to his
feet, taking my friend clean from the ground,
and started off with him at fearful rate. 1t
was a sight that Barnum would have envied
| was alarmed for his safety and sprang for.
ward with all my power, though my rife was
not loaded. But the scene did not last long,
for after few leaps the deer came to large
log, and his unwieldly load was too much for
him to lift over; he struck about midway on
the log, and saw a strange commingling OF
boots, deer and hoofs as they both disappeared
behind the log. | was at the spot in a mo-
ment, and my friend was just picking him
self up His first expression after regaining
his feet was, is he deadr'
Dead" l repeated. Hes half way to
Canada by this time"
Well, said he, IF he had had two horns
should have been on his back now"
Horns" exclaimed, ''he had two horns
when fired at him." but my friend declared
that the deer he rode only had one.
We went to the spot where the deer at first
fell, and sure enough, it was SO; for there lay
the other horn with my bullet completely
embedded in it, about three inches from the
bCse. The whole thing was at once explained.
The bullet, which was a heavy one, had
knocked off his horn, and completely stunned
him.
GREAT CAPTURE
Ny friend soon began to complain of feel
ing lamo all over, and after standing a few
minutes, he could scarcely walk. / thought
it best for him to go back to the camp, ana
til, he did, and with much difficulty, as he
continued to grow lame. l followed after
the buck for a short piece, or until was con.
WINGED that he did not wish to be any further
"broEen" to the saddle. Then l took a cir.
cuit, intending to get back to the camp abou,
noon. 1t seemed that all the game in the
forest had heard Of the narrow escape Of one
OF their number becoming beast of burden,
and had left so dangerous a locality | kept
On my intended circuit, and soon found nv
self on the top of a quite high hill l Sd,
down to rest a short time, as the ascent was
quite tiresome,