Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-06-04
SHOOTING HIS FIRST DEER.
His Sensations Before and After Ho Fired
the Shot.

Ills sensations BEFORE ana After Ho tlred
the Shot.
81 remember my first deer" some
body writes in the New York Tribune.
IL was in northern California and was
crazy TO got shot at one. There
were five OF us in camp, besides the
guide and we were all 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.
Aiterward | saw him examining deer
skin which hung on the wall. The
next day we were lying around smol-
ing, when Jake, the guide, came run
ming into camp. He was breathless,
and cried out between his gasps: Get
your rifles; there's deer grazing over
on the other side of the ravine up
| there"
There was wild excitement in the
camp. We all seized our guns and
| ammunition and started after Jake on
| the run.
well, the cynic, was missing, and l
thought with grim delight of his dis
gust when we should come back to
camp in triumph bearing our trophy.
| The guide led US terribly hot race.
and then as we approached the rise over
the ravine he turned and placed his fin
gsrs on his lips.
'S-s-shn he said we may come up
on him at any minute. was in trem-
bic, 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 fire. 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 paraly2ed. Three and
fret There wero three shots, but
stood like fool, shaking with my
weakness.
4" Quick" cried Jake, before he
jumps! Now's your chance! They've
missed him.
cat the instant that the others fire.
I found the trigger, and at Jake's wore
| pulled it. saw the deer culver 70.
moment and then sink to the earth.
i got hint | cried in burst o
joy.
q" No, / got him. cried the othe,
three.
81 tell you, you missed him.
cried, and dropping my gun | wen
lgaping down the side of the ravine
the others in hot pursuit. There wa
patch of briars at the bottom, but
rushed wildly through them, tearins
my face and hands and yelling like I
crazy man that ] had shot the deer
We had a lively race of it. / jumped
into the creek and half FLASHED ant
half swan through it, clambaring NJ
the bank and running for my deer, IN,
clothes dripping and my heart thump
ing like trip-hammer. When ! reach
cd my deer my companions were clos
behind me and then | stopped short
Will the cynic, was lying on his bacI
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 Il deer I
order with the sawhOrse and skin, an
Will 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 itp" he cried. and q
that ! turned back to camp. That OK
pericnce so disguised me that hav
never since gone deer hunting"