Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-01
SHOOTING HIS FIRST DEER.
His Sensations Before and After He Fired
the Shot,


Il remember my first deer" some
body writes in the New York Tribune.
Il was in northern California and was
crazy to get shot at one. There
were five of US in camu, besides the
guide, and we were ali enthusiastic
save one who had killed his share of
deer in his lifetime. [ remember see
ing the guide one afternoon at work
with hammer and nails on a saw-horse.
Afterward [ saw him examining a deer
skin which hung on the wall The
next day we were lying around smok-
ing, when Jake, the guide, came rum
ming into camp. He was breathleSS.
and cried out between his gasps: Get
your rifles: there a deer grazing oyes.
on the other side of the ravine 40
there
There was wild excitement in the
camp. We all seized our guns and
ammunition and started after Jake or
the run.
We'll, the cynic, was missing. and
thought with grim delight of his dis
gust when we should come back to
camp in triumph bearing our trophy.
The guide led US a terribly hot race,
and then as we approached the rise over
the ravine he turned and placed his fin
gers on his lips.
. 'S-s-sh!' he said; we may come up
| on him at any minute, | was in q trem-
| BILE, but | was determined to have the
| first shot.
Jake led US carefully along until
we came opposite a clearing on the
other side of the ravine. Suddenly he
stopped and grabbed my arm. There
he was. | could see him browsing be-
hind some brush, and my knees grew
weak. We got down on our hands and
knees and crawled carefully along
| Then came the time to fire.
"'All take aim, said Jake, and I'll
count three" and ''ire"' Our three
guns were at our shoulders, and Jake
began to count. | lost my senses, and
could not find the trigger of my gun.
had deer ague. | heard him count
out in a low voice. one, two, and my
| muscles were paralyzed. Three and
| fret There were three shots, but
stood like a fool, shaking with my
weakness.
Quick" cried Jake, before he
| jumps! Now's your chance! They've
missed him.
AT the instant that the others fired
| found the trigger, and at Jake's word
| pulled it. | saw the deer culver for
a moment and then sink to the earth.
q got him!' 1 cried in burst of
Joy.
" No / got him, cried the other
three.
Il tell you, you missed him. I
cried, and dropping my gun I went
leaping down the side Of the ravine,
the others in hot pursuit. There was
a patch OF briars at the bottom, but I
rushed wildly through them, tearing
my face and hands and yelling like a
crazy man that | had shot the deer.
We had a lively race of it. | jumped
into the creek, and half FLASHED and
half swan through it, clambering up
the bank and running for my deer, my
clothes dripping and my heart thump-
ing like trip-hammer. When [ reach
ed my deer my companions were close
behind me and then [ stopped short
Will, the cynic, was lying on his back
in convulsions of laughter, the string
still in his hand with which he had
pulled our noble game to earth when
we fired. Jake had made a deer tC
order with the saWhOrse and skin, and
Will and he had set it up across the
ravine. | was so white with rage and
modification that | could not speak,
while Will continued TO roar with
lesghter.
Who shot it?" he cried, and al
that | turned back to camp. That ex-
perience so disguised me that have
never since gone deer hunting"