Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-01
SHOOTING HIS FIRST DEER.
His Sensations Before and After He Fired
tine shot.

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 a 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. i remember SEQ
ing the guide one afternoon at work
with hammer and nails on n snw-horse:
Afterward saw him examining doer-
skin which hung on the wall. The
next day we were lying around smok-
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 gHns and
ammunition ind started after Jake on
the run.
well, the cynic, was missing, and I
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 trem-
bic. but ! was determined to have the
first shot
Jake led us carefully along until
we came opposite q 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 IN
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 paralyzed. Three and
flrer There were three shots, but l
stood like q fool shaking with my
weakness.
Quick" cried Jake, before he
jumps! Now's your chance! They've
missed him"
Eat the instant that the others fired
| found the trigger, and at Jake's word
/ pulled it. / saw the deer culver for
Ia pit 20 hn ~
81 got him!' cried in burst Of
JOY.
d" No, got him, cried the other
three.
IL tell you, you missed him. I
cried, and dropping my gun | went
leaping down the side OF the ravine,
the others in hot pursuit. There was
a patch Of briars at the bottom, but /
rushed wildly through them, tearing
my face and hands and yelling like a
crazy man that / had shot the deer.
We had lively race of it. l 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 commissions Of laughter, the string
still in his hand with which he haG
pulled our noble game to earth wheI
we fred. Jake had made deer Il
order with the sawhorse and skin, anC
: Will and he had set it ND across the
ravine. was so white with rage and
modification that l could not speak,
while VIII continued TO roar with
laughter.
&" Who shot Up" he cried. and n
that turned back to camp. That ex
: perience 60 Disguised me that I have
neror since gone deer hunting"
q -----
Keep Early Hours.