Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-16

animal WOrth1er OF pursuit.
Tekel and Chort encouraged their dogs by
whistling and by cries peculiar to them
selves, to which the Intelligent creatures
had soon become accustomed. They drove
in the Siberian fashion, without using
whip. The whip is replaced by the ostle, a
stout rod four feet long, tipped with iron al
its lower end. The drivers hurl the ostle
at lazy or disobedient dogs and pick it w
very adroitly as they pass it.
Each dog of the teams belonging to the
settled tribes of Siberia has complete little
set of harness, consisting Of a wide belt
across the chest, by means of which it pulls
This belt is kept in place by another strap,
fastened to it and passing around the body
of the animal. The whole is attached to
the principal strap by short trace. The
sledge dogs are accustomed to utter a pro
longed howl at the moment of setting out.
1t was with an ample supply Of dried fish
that the fugitives fed their dogs. Their OWE
food was neither more agreeable nor of bet
ter quality.
When the sledges stopped that day, Telzel
sought for suitable place in which to pass
the rest Of the day and the night. He soon
returned, making a sign to Yegor to ad
vance. The spot was perfectly sheltered
They felled several poplar trees to form
rampant. In the corner of this rampant was
erected the pologue intended for Nadege
the interior of which was promptly heated
by means Of lamp. They broke the ice OF
the Kolina to obtain water; this ice was as
yet but two feet thick. A great bivouac fire
fed with wood furnished by the neighboring
trees, spread warmth about it. The most
comforting and substantial on this fire.
Yegor and Tekel took each a gun and,
preceded by Wab. plunged cautiously, with
watchful eyes, into the bushes and thickets
in search of feathered or furred game. The
Yakoute, with the instinct of the savage.
examined the leaves Of the bushes to see il
they did not bear marks of the bites of
deer or elk. Sometimes he paused and
listened attentively, signing to Yegor to re.
main silent and nlotionless. Wab, like the
docile and intelligent dog it was, held itself
in readiness, its paws uplifted, interro-
eating with look its master and the Yak.
QUITE.
Telzel suddenly dropped quickly and, hid.
ing behind the trunk of a tree. remained mo-
tionless, squatting in the snow. He was evi
IDENTIFY watching some animal. Yegor, his
finger on the trigger of his gun, stood ready
to set at the first signal.
After minute had elapsed, the Yakoute
arose and signed to his master to follow
him.
They descended towards the river.
Deer tracks," said Yegor, in whisper,
pointing to inlprints on the snow.
Telel shook his head.
tlTIoCa ar.o olI- +uoc1yc bo ~,
low tone. THE hoofs are slender, straight
deeply cleft and united at the top by mem
brane which permits the foot to spread and
place itself, without sinking, on the fresh
snow or the moist soil"
Yegor knew that elk, like stays, always
go in herds of from fifteen to twenty. He
ardently hoped that he and his companion
might succeed in killing, at least, one OF
the agile and courageous animals. The male
elk attains the size Of an OK, and weighs as
much as twelve hundred pounds. Its huge
elongated head, terminated by thick anC
wide muzzle which gives it the face of an
ass, is crowned with antlerS which widen
into a triangular top in the form of a shovel
Inc elk IS, AFTER the reindeer, the animal
most useful to the tribes Of the north. Its
flesh is smoked and preserved, its firm
and plant skin serves to make garments,
and its hard and brilliantly white bones
are employed to manufacture different in
struments.
Yegor and Tekel had reached spot where
the very abrupt bank lowered perpendicu
larry above the river. A hundred yards
from there, they saw through the scattered
aspens and cedars little glade invaded by
blackberry bushes, thyme, red heath and
heath with black berries called chikcha and
bOrdered with willows. Hidden behind
some eglantine bushes, the two hunters,
who had noticed that all the footprints con.
verged to this point, waited. Suddenly,
Wab gave start and was about to leap, but
Yegor's hand restrained the animal in time
An elk, of huge proportions, came out
from under the willows, followed by its
family numbering seven-an old female
without horns, two full-grown animals with
hair already thick, two young animals and
two faWnS.
Yegor and Tekel heard the snow crack
beneath their hoofs. The male advanced
first; it stopped at the edge of the forest,
bent down birch tree with it's antlers.
broke off the top and ate the branches.
Yegor and the Yal1oute, who were not in
the direction Of the wind, took advantage OF
this moment to aim their guns and fire sim.
taneOusly.
A flash lighted up the darkness beneath
the branches, Wab bounded forward with q
howl, and the female at which Tekel had
aimed fell, uttering a hollow groan. The
full-grown animals fed, followed by the
faWns. AS to the male which Yegor had
wounded in the shoulder, it ran short dis.
lance and then suddenly stopped to attack
those who had attacked it.
But Wab leaped upon it.
Feeling the dogs teeth in its throat, the
elk leaped among the thickest trees, hoping
to make its adversary loosen its hold by
dashing it against the trunks.
The brave Wab would certainly have been
crushed. if Yegor. starting ar9:;=-;- -
ward, had not fired a second ball into the
head Of the elk, which fell dead.
''The prize is ours /" cried Tekel, running
up, armed with his knife
"And magnificent prize it is, tool" said
Yegor, measuring the length Of the animal
with his eye
1--WE will carry away only the best Dor.
tons" said the Yazoute, preparing to cut of
the cartilaginous head, which, with the ears
and tongue, is the part preferred by the
people Of the north.
This operation finished, Tekel skinned the
animal ana cut off its hind legs.
Yegor did the same for the female; and
the two hunters returned ioyously to the en-
campment, where their acquisitions were
very highly appreciated.
NJ. Lafeur, who had never partaken OF
an ellz's head roasted on the Goals. prom
ised himself that he would one day ragale
his f1,ianAs 1rith the d;sh On Lis ,.n.1,,.-. f.