Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-01
SHOOTING HIS FIRST DEER.
His Sensations Before and After He Fire
the shot

the SEoS-
II remember my FIRST deer" some
body writes Ia the New York Tribune
Il was in northern California and wa
crazy to Get a shot at one. Their
were five Of us in camp. besides th(
guide, and we were all enthusiastic
save one who had killed his share d
deer in his lifetime. | remember see
ing tho guide one afternoon at wor
with hammer and nails on "a s;lw-horse
Afterward ! saw him examining n deer
skin which hung on the wall. Thv
next day we were lying around smold
ing. when Jake. the guide came run
ming into camp. He was breathless
and cried out between his gasps: 'Ge
your rifles; there's deer grazing owe
on the other side Of the ravine u
there.
There was wild excitement i'm tn
camp. We all seized our guns an
ammunition and started after Jake o
the run.
We'll, the cynic. was missing, and
thought with grim delight OF his dis
gust when we should come back i
camp in triumph bearing our trophy
The guide led ms terribly hot race
and then "a we approached the rise owe
the ravine he armed and placed his fin
gers on his lip.
3" SIS sh' he fa'C; we may come upI
on him at any minute, was in trent
bic, but | was determined u have tb@
| first shot.
Jake led us carefully along unit
we came opposite 8. clearing on thu
other side of the ravine. Suddenly Id
stopped and grabbed my arm Ther{
he was. | could see him browsing bel
hind some brush, and my knees grew
weak. We got down on our hands and
knees and crawled carefully alongI
Then came the time TO fire.
" All take aim said Jake, and I'll
count three" and ''iire."' Our thre(
guns were at our shoulders, and Jak(
began to count. ! lost my senses, and
could not find the trigger OF my gum
i had deer ague. j heard him cOun|
out in n low voice, one. two. and my
muscles were paralyzed. Three and
fret There were three shots. but
stood like Z fool, shaking with my
weakness
(" Quick cried Jake, before h|
jumps! Now's your chance! They'vl
missed him.
AT the instant that the others fired
found the trigger, and at Jake's WORD
] pulled it. | saw the deer culver FOL
n moment and then sink To the EARTH
l. I :
JOY.
- No, | got him, cried the othe
three.
IL tell you, you missed him.
cried. and dropping my gun l wen
leaping down the side of the ravine
the others in hot pursuit. There wa
patch Of briars at the bottom, but
rushed wildly through them, tearing
my face and hands and yelling like ;
crazy man that | had shot the deor
We had lively race of it. l jumpe,
; into the creek. and half FLASHED AM
half swan through it, clambering NJ
the bank and running for my deer, m
clothes dripping and my heart thump
ing like a trip-hammer. When / reach
ed my deer my companions were clos
behind me and then stopped short
VIII. the cynic, was lying on his BAG
! in commissions of laughter. the strin
still in his hand with which he ha
pulled our noble game to earth whe
we fired. Jake had made deer {
order with the sawhorse and skin, an
t viii and he had set it up across tn
} ravine. | was so white with rage an
modification that | could not speak
while VIII continued to roar wit
laughter.
{" Who shot it?" he cried. and ;
= that turned back to camp. That eN
= periencc 30 Disguised me that | hav
norcr since gone deer hunting"