The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-05-21
course they now took was slightly west

4
up the swamp. There was ridge in the
heart Of it, which I felt sure he would
follow. This ridge could be reached by
| road which crossed the swamp two or
three miles higher up, and ifI could get
there ahead of the buck I might bring
him down after all. All of this came to
me like fash, and my horae was off like
the wind before my fellow-huntsmen had
time to ask any questions. My nag was
a small mare, but of good blood and en-
durance sure.footed, and as fleet, almost,
as the buck himself.
"With her ears fattened back against
| her head she laid herself down to the
chase till the tall pines fairly whirled
around US. On We went, up hill and
down dale, over the long stretch of sandy
road flying dust cloud. There was no
need to ply thespur; the intelligent little
animal knew what was expected of her
and required no urging. The rumble Of
her flying feet and the rushing of the
wind around my ears prevented my hear.
ing aught else with certainty but fan.
cied that I..caught the peal of the hounds
from time to time and felt satisfied that
they were coming up the ridge. At last
we wheeled into the crossroad, but the
ridge was still nearly mile distant.
Then distinctly made out the baying of
the swift Beauty far in advance of the
rest Of the pack. The buck was close to
the crossing, and it was hard race to
| get there ahead of him. The little mare
was in lathe of sweat and her nostrils
were widely distended, but she did not
falter or relax her pace, aud the pines
whirled about us in q giddy waltz.
"Ah There is the morass that bor-
ders the ridge. But close, provokingly
close, at hand on the left is the baying
Ceauty. And now ne are on the ridge,
and not moment too soon, for there, in
long, steady lope, with head and tail
high in air comes the buck. He fancies
all danger is past, is taking it easy ahead
of the swiftly-following dog, who has
distanced the other hounds fully mile.
His attention is given to the dog, so he
does not notice US.
''The mare sees him as soon as and
stops short of her own accord. At the
same moment the buck perceives us and
stretches himself in a magnificent out
burst speed. Instead of coming direct.
ly for us, as at first, he swerves and
crosses the road broadside on, about
thirty yards distant. Aiming for the
front ofthe shoulder blade fred the right |
barrel. Down goes his tail, an infallible
sign that he is hit, but he does not waver,
and I send the charge of the left barrel
at his launches. Aha! His pace has
already diminished perceptibly; he will
not go far now. The thought comes to
me to run him down, and the little mare
and 1 go tearing through the underbush.
But we had not gone hundred yards
before Beauty flashed past us like me-
teor, no longer running by scent, but
leaping high over the bushes. her long
ears streaming behind like two tawny
bannerets. In thrice she is up with
the wounded buck, has seized him by
a hind leg and dragged him down. L
rein in the mare, fling myself from the
saddle, throw down my gun and rush up
to cut his throat.
"If ever you find yourself in similar
situation do not follow my example, but
put fresh shells in your gun aDd approach
your buck cautiously. Before I could
reach mine be had shaken himself, free
from the dog and regained his feet. He
paid no further heed to her, but rushed
at me head down. In the presence of
imminent danger man does not think;
he acts. How I came to do it l am sure
I do not know, unless it was a purely in-
stinctive act; anyhow [ sprang behind o
tree, and the buck turned his head so
quickly that his forehead struck the trunk
squarely and the tips of his antlers passed
on either side of it.
When I came to realize what had hap.
pened, I found myself on one side of the
tree holding on for life to the antlers and
the buck on the other side struggling des-
perately to free them. The animal was
so large and powerful that the task I had
undertaken taxed my strength to the
utmost. Indeed, had it not been for the
aid of the tree, which greatly hampered
the bucks movements and effectually
prevented the sidewise lurches of his
head, do not think I could have main
tanned the struggle for two minutes.
Beauty also gave me noble assistance by
nagging at his hindquarters and aanks.
"Next to his horns bucks most effec.
tive weapons are his fore feet, which are
capable of cutting like daggers, and with
which he strikes terrible blows. He
used these so furiously and with such
good aim that I found the greatest diff
Guilty in avoiding them, partly shielded
though I was by the tree. The sleeves
of my hunting coat we're torn into shreds,
and several times narrowly eacaped
blow on the head that would have in all
probability laid me out. So uncomfor.
table did this incessant shower of blows
make me that more than once / seriously
thought of releasing the brute and trust
ing to his seeking safety in flight, but |
dared not risk the chance of another
rush.
"There was still another cause for un'
easiness. My strength was fast giving
out. I could not disguise the fact that l
must soon give up from sheer exhaustion.
Aud as had left the other hunters too
far behind to expect them to join me
1oI