The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
DEER EXPERIENCE.
A Hunting Story Whose Truth is vouched
For by the Relator.

A Hunting Story Whose Truth is Vouched
For by the Relator.
Harry Moore, of the Boston grain
trade, has Just been down to Maine,
though he did not go deer hunting, as
he will do later; for the forests were too
full of falling leaves. But he did get
hold of good deer story, and all the
better from having happened this sea-
son. Harry vouches for the truth of
this deer story, and brings the names Of
reputable hunters in Maine to prove it.
Mr.. Harding, very respectable bust
ness man of Bangor, told the story the
other evening as they sat by the fire.
side. The evening was chilly and the
birch backlogs lent cheerful blaze.
Harding had been hunting only the day
before. With friend he had tried the
deer grounds of Gouldsboro. They had
hunted nearly all day without sign Of
deer, other than the tracks, and were
about discouraged. At last they came
to brook, and beyond the brook deer.
Here Harding's friend and guide was
sure that they ought to sight a deer
and very cauti ously they passed the
brook. There were fresh tracks that
led up the hill. Harding took one set
of very large tracks and his friend
another. Cautiously he followed up
the hill till he got whore he dared
to peep over. He lay fiat on his
stomach and took look. The first
cipht u,ac dicopDoint;pn Tboro ,,,oro
cattle browsing-the land was partially
cleared. But about one hundred yards
beyond the cattle, though some of the
cows had bells on, there was beautiful
buck. He stood head on; his quick ear
u scent had detected the presence of a
pnpre dangerous enemy than the cows
with bells on. Harding had nothing but
muzzle-loading rifle, but one with
which he had done some fine work. He
was a man of quick thought and of quick
action. He glanced along the barrel.
In his crawling over the hill he had
broken off the forward sight of his rife,
but the magnificent deer stood there,
head erect and just ready to jump.
Harding was bound to shoot, and he
pointed the rifle as best he could. The
report startled the cows into a run, but
the buck fell as stiff as log. Harding
shouted to his friend and ran to cut the
deer's throat with his hunting knife. He
came up to where the animal had fallen,
but he was gathering up and was nearly
erect, though rather dizzily, and was
beginning to get away. This would
never do. Harding was as quick of &C
ton as of thought, and he made grab
for the buck and just succeeded in get
ting good hold of the short tail of the
beast. Here he hung on for dear life
gan to bound away. The ground was
covered with hummocks and logs, but
Harding hung on. Here he paused in
his story
Harry, did you ever, when you were
a boy, try to hang on to the tailboard Of
a wagon, with the driver whipping up
his horses in order to shake you off?''
"Yes, I have"
'Well, you know just how that deer
was making my legs hum, only l could
hOV lcI ~ do CeSll do JOu Oouli 1SO Z u
of the wagon on the smooth road, and it
would not do to let go, for l wanted that
buck. All at once he stumbled over one
of those hummocks and fell to his knees.
His prongs plowed the next hummock
and stuck fast. He was my buck and he
was down, and 1 jumped for his throat,
Leaalieg to my friend. The buck kicked
as only deer can kick with those
mighty long legs of his. tried to APP
proach his head, but with we'll directed
stroke of his hind leg he ripped my vest,
shirt pants and drawers from my throat
down almost to my feet and came near
cutting my head off with his sharp
hoofs. Then my friend came up and
helped me dispatch the deer. Afterward
he dryly remarked that his first thought
was that was about to retire-from the
conflict was so we'll unbuttoned.
Snow, Harry, where do you suppose
that buck was hit? The bullet had just
grazed his backbone lengthwise and for
the momentparalyzed him. Forest and
Stream.