The National tribune., 1891-06-18

struck up the mountain and we followed him
| some two miles when he suddenly stopped and
placing his ear near the ground listened for
moment Then turning TO the right, be swiftly
started Of, motiOning us 10 follow.
We went on for mile, when there came
distinctly TO our ears a sound as though a
multitude Of men were stamping on the ground
/ somewhere near. Then we heard sounds OF
! cashing Of horns, and we knew that we were
close 10 one OF those forest amphitheaters,
where stays meet in presence Of their herds
| and
GIVE BATTLE ROYAL
| Tor supremacy in their harems.
With noiseloss steps we crept forward, and
soon over the top of a fallen tree caught sight
! of the battlefield. In the center of q little
| glade the ground was torn up, making sort
of rude ring, in which were two noble stays.
With lowered heads and branching horns
they were by every kind of force and STRAIT
egy trying 10 do mortal harm 10 one another.
Some 200 feet away dozen does were watch
/ ing their lords OF creation, probably not caring
how the contest would end; for one must be
the victor, and TO the victor would belong the
spoils.
The struggle lasted for nearly az hour, and
had apparently been going on for some time.
! The stays were evenly matched, aud every now
and then would stop 10 get breath. Then, with
angry screams that made the forest ring they
would bound 10 the deadly combat. We watched
until the scene had become tiresome, and then
taking steady aim, as they stood resting, tum-
bled them both into the arena, where they had
so nobly battled, To pour out their lile-b blood
and gasp their last breath together.
The guide had watched us with keen eyes,
and when relOadinG rapidly, we rose and
dropped two does they 6ed upon the wings
OF the wind he uttered cultural grunt OF ap-
i md th fn hNF ,fsnf
busily to work skianiDg and cutting up the
venisOn.
As both John aud
WANTED THE ANTLERs,
/ we spent our time In cutting mp the bucks, first
carefully separating the head from the body.
! Mine was OF ia branches, and ] could not touch
both tips At the same time. Johns had but ~
branches, but they were q splendid pair.
Having secured the -four skins and the meat,
the guide WAS not disposed 10 trouble himself
much about horns, but we were determined;
so, fitting them as closely together as possible,
we cut young sapinR, and, staggering under
the weight, slowly made our way back TO the
! lake shore.
Whist with the horns hide, and meat we had
! 20 make three trips before il was all down, and
then il took two hours 10 ferry il across TO the
! island. The antlcrs we hung up in a tree near
the landing, not taking them over.
Darkness bad como upon US before we fin
1 ishec, aud hunger WAS pressing, but we ended
the labor before we stopped 10 eat, and then
gUrged ourselves on rare ycnsOn steaks, br0iled
boiore tho campfire. Well tired out by our
days excrtions, we dropped quickly OF 10
sleep, but were rudely awakened by our
! guide, who, with balcd breath, whispered 90 The
! Spirits Of the Lake"
/ Sure enough, something was going on both
on the water and in the air ] cTept down 10
/ the waters edge, and listening, soon recognized
1 The peculiar sound made 10y WaieT-birds when
/ excited. They were having trouble, talking
eHeTgetically, and
BEATING THE WATER
with their wings.
] also found out what was in the air, for big
owl came flying close over my head AID lighting
on the tree over our camp, msde night hideous
! with his weird cries. j frightened him away
! by firing my rife, aud the noisy waterfowl left
us 20 seek the farther end Of the lake.
We had good laugh at the guide aud then
again sought natures kind restOreT. Daylight
broke with heavy clouds lying low on the
! mountan-sdes and a nasty, driZzing rain set
in, which destroyed all hope OF sport for the
time.
We passed the day lounging over the FIRE,
which we kept costly going and as night fell
were rejOiced 10 perceive that west wind had
cleared away the clouds and the morrow would
! be fine one.
] " e hthtic4 carry ana cfOsSluP the lace OF the
mountain soon fell IN with drove Of deer, from
which we killed four--the stag and three does.
Satisfied now with our luck. having three pairs
I OF autlers, eight skins and four deer tails each
with which 10 ornament our caps we made the
first move toward home by carrying our sntleTs
and vcnisou 70 the point where the tree-climb-
ing commenced
The guide demonstrated with US for trying 10
carry such clumsy things home. aud could not
understand why We preferred the horns to
meat; but as We asked
80 HELP Prom HIN,
he soon became satisfied, especially when we
presented him with ell the eight pelts, pro-
yided he took the small pair Of aHtlerS to the
harbor.
Having carefully hung everything up clear
Of the reach Of animals we returned 10 the
camp aud went quietly 10 bed. Early next
morning we broke camp aud transported every
thing to the shore, and onto the same place
where we left the other things. Here the
guide remained 10 watch tie stores. We. with
our two guns aud pair q branching aHtlers
each, commenced the ardu0us task Of climbing
through the forest upon the tree trunks. Every
branch, bush, vine seemed 10 reach out and
seize US by some yautage-hOld. What with the
weight OF the antlcrs the struggles 10 get free,
The slips and tumbles, both John aud were
exhausted before noon, aud We had advanced
hardly two miles
There bad been no sign yet OF the auxili-
aries, 50 placing our horns Ia a safe and con-
spicuOus place, we returned 10 the guide, and
by number Of trips advanced everything "a
the point where we lad rested the day we came
up Then we eamped in the hollow under the
roots, aud there our two men found Us when
they came along about a. m.
They were aslOnishcd aud ] believe dis
gusted, 10 lnd us SO oaliye aud with 50 much bag
gage. Giving them no rest, we loaded then
, heavily and sent them forward 10 the camp oi
{ the first night 20 Toturn aud carry out sec
ond load that afternoon.
The guide went with them TO remain OF
guard aud send them back, while John and
} TOILED ONWARD
! with our awkward loads. John was behind
S when, slipping on a tree trunk, fell, horn
G and all, some IL feet. This time the horn
were an advantage, for they caught on a deat
z limb just of the ground and lii on the horns
. fortunately between the spikes. IL took US
c full hour 10 get the horns clear, hoist them u
G 10 the path. aud start on again.
y After several hours Of this work, droppin
our horns 90 save ourselves. resting, and pick
c ing them up, we reached the end Of the fallel
d trees aud were delighted TO think that IN
d worst was over. Not so. The tangled under
o brush was there as bad, and il was hours, an
Il then only by accident, before we learned 10 2
FIRST and drag the antlers by tho head back
ie ward. By this trick VIC avoided catching a
n the bushes, aud saw why the horns are alway
e. rubbed smooth on the under aud reverse sid
II Elk and al other sntlered deer lay the horn
IA 4 hack nm the ghouldpFE NV flaVaffr1 fba y,,s