Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-11-20
For the Ellsworth American.
The Buck That I Didn't Shoot.


One bright morning in October few
years ago. was making preparations to
90 on a hunt. MY little friend, Ed, came
to me and asked the liberty to go with me.
| was upon the point of telling him that
boys were too noisy to hunt deer" but
he seemed to anticipate my thoughts, and
looking into my face pleadingly, said: II
won't make any noise" lie had his little
gun upon his shoulder, and met my gaze
with look Of certainty. What can you
shoot with that lit,le gum" said I. He
replied Il don't know as can shoot
anything; but | would like 10 20 hunting
with you" well" replied, IF you can
get Your fathers consent you may 90"
He ran home and soon came back. say
ing: 1t is all right with father" So
after giving him some instructions, aud
trying to impress upon his mind the i'm
portanCc OF caution, when hunting deer
we started for the hunting ground. Be
tigue; hut we kept on, and were soon at
our place of designation, and saw some
signs OF deer lIunteis often adopt the
plan of driving 4 piece of woods which
consists in one or more taking position
al one side Of a swamp, and others enter
at the opposite side, and thus drive the
game upon the hunters who are waiting to
shoot it. proposed for Ed to drive a lit
tie swamp rear at hand. He was some
afraid that he might meet bear. which
animal he had great fear of: but on nv
assuring linn that bears did not iubabIt a
territory like that, he decided that he
would make the trial.
took great pains 10 show our little
hunter how 10 proceed and the caution re-
quirrd To gain The opposite side of the
swamp, so a. not 10 drive the deer in the
wrong direction He seemed TO under
,i:rd ii ei' and went on his way, while
took my position and waited the result;
but had no idea that there was a deer in
the swamp, and as it was somewhat cold
drew on my gloves. had waited about
out 70, murder, Mr. G.. he's coming."
sptung to my feet and peered into the
thick woods heard arumbling, and the
same instant a biz pair of deer horns sp-
pcarod, coming with railroad speed direct
Is towards me, and not more than seven
" five feet away but in ali my experience
a. A hunter. | never felt 50 completely off
my base as al that tIme-m my rife on my
shoulder, my hands euyeloped IN pair Of
thick woolon gloves, and not knowing
whether to strike or shoot; but | rallied,
and in an instant had pulled of my right
hand glove, and brought my rifle to my
shoulder The deer detected my motion and
shecrcd little and would pass me at a dis
tanCe of fifteen feet. Would | hit him:
Well, guess | would. a man of my rep
utation as dead shot, miss TINT deer?
Why, would as soon think Of missing a
barn. ! measured his speed, foreald him
aud pulled. a little bush was cut off
about six inches above his back | saw
had missed him. In my younger days
had done all my hunting with "muzzle
loader, and in my confusion on this occa-
sion had forgotten that had in my hand
a repeating rifle, loaded, a. the Old negro
said sixteen times" The present was
mingled with the past, | brought the
brecch of my rifle upon the srouni and
made search in all my pockets for my
powder flask. did not come u myself
TIL | heard the well known voice Of Ed
calling Did you kill him." Ny Win
chester was instantly loaded, but too late
only saw the tail Of the deer disappear
ing over a hil. twenty rods away, had
to twist matters great deal to satisfy Ed,
but the little fellow looked disappointed
when he saw that our game had escaped.
Bangor, Sept, 1890.