The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-01-29
Treed by q Deer.

Doubtless there is no game in the west
which to the average sportsman can compare
With the prairie chicken. Larger game must
,e hunted longer and with greater cost and
ARE, but the countless prairie chickens are
always to be found i'm season and out Of sea-
ION along the border of civilization, and at the
ime of which write-say thirty-fve years
ago-I could by walking mile out OF the
title village where lived, find good shoot
ng without the aid of dog. They start up
put OF the prairie grass right from under
ones feet and then the supple trigger and
luick eye was enough to bag the game.
One dreamy October afternoon in the fall
Of '57, not having any particular rush of
business, took my gun and strOlled out
towards the open prairie. intending to ex-
tend my walk down nearer the river than l
had formerly been, with the hope that
might bag wild goose or brant. The
whistle OF the plover and quail were music
I'm my ears but made my way along with
out noticing them and even let the chickens
90, intending to secure what wanted, II
any. on my return later in the day.
On reaching the river / carefully recon-
nOtered for geese and finally sawhalf a dozen
or so standing on log just out of the wafer
and though they evidently saw me they
showed no alarm bat stood looking at me.
had charged my gun with buck-shOt and
when within perhaps ten or twelve rods Of
them, deliberately took aim and fired both
barrels at the broad breasted fowl, and I'll
be hanged metaphorically IL l didn't hear
the shot strike them as plain as day. But
do you suppose hurt 'em? Not any. They
just looked sorrOwfully at me moment, and
spreading their broad wings sailed up the
river. | learned afterwards that you can't
kill wild goose that way.
l was dsgusted, and flinging the gun
down seated myself among the branches
of fallen tree and leaning back i'm a COM
Portable position listened to the various
sounds Of insect and animal life. The
dronii g bees, the sunhsine trickling through
M q ivering leaves and the soft breath of
the autumn breeze luled me to quiet. and /
slept How long slept do not know but
l was awakened by terrific crash and n
believing sound that frightened me terribly.
Springing to my feet l saw directly in
front of me an enormous stag. His antlers
were immense and as he glared at me he
lowered them Omniously, meanwhile stick
ing his hair forward and stamping like
sheep at the sight of a strange dog.
l was paralyzed fOr an instant and when
l attempted to move he sprang at me and
drove me back into>my seat with the force
of a pile driver and nothing but the shelter
of Overhanging limbs saved me from instant
death. His powerful antlers would have
g0red my life out could he but have reached
me. He stood and glared at me in his I'M
potent rage for short time and then tried
to bite me, but | kicked his nose which
made him fairly below with madness. Then
he tried to strike me with his enormous
hoOfs but gave him a few gashes on his
shins with my pocket knife which acted as a
deterrant and he quit that.
My gun lay only a few steps away but
what of that? Ii might as we'll have been
in Texas for all the good it did me. There
he stood Watching every move OF mine and
making Intellectual efforts occasionally TO
stab me with an antler. The sun sank in
the west and the stars one by one came
peeking out of the ether blue and seeming
to look curiOusly down on me, and when at
length the moon came up and gaZed at the
scene it was ten O'clock, as l could distinct
ly see Oh my watch dial by the light from
the brute's eye-balls for they glOwed like
fire.
Still he stood there hour after hour. al
most moti0nless now, watching, it seemed
to me- my very breath. The wolves came
snpaking around and tried to set them on
him, but they were afraid of my voice and
only ventured near enough to smell OF his
heels and then he kicked at them and finally
the whole pack left as they came. l was
getting terribly tired sitting in that cramped
position but what could do. with that
murderous beast so near me that could
feel his hot breath. l shouted till l made
myself hoarse. l tried to snap bird shot
into his eyes but all to no purpose.
Just then happened to think that had
a bottle Of chlorOfOrm IN my pocket. took
it out and carefully uncorking it held it to
his nose. He avoided it by turning his head
away, same as children do but as he got
somewhat under its influence he pushed for
ward for more and gave it to him from my
pocket handkerchief. 1t very soon began
to show its effect in his eyes, which ceased
to glare at me and shortly his eyelids droop-
ed, his knees weakened perceptibly and to
my utter surprise he finally lay down, fold
| ing his legs under his body and throwing
his head back on his side, he went TO sleep.
That was happy moment for me. l
jumped down and stretching myself pro-
ceeded to examine the now harmless animal.
His antlers were four feet from tip to tip
and judging from the prongs on them he
must have been forty years old or more. AS
my enemy lay before me my animOsity
against him disappeared and i sat down
on his huge carcass and considered what was
/ best to do. hadn't the heart to kill him as
he lay sleeping so innOcently. so loaded
my gun and taking lariat from my game
bag passed 1t over his horns and then gave
| it o turn around his neck and tied 1t to q
small tree. Then / stirred him up till he
reluctantly awOke and got on his feet with
some little difficulty, but instead Of showing
fear or fight he beated softly and coming
toward me eemed 10 ask for more chlOrO-
| form. He was gentle as a lamb. so picking
up my gun united him and with the and of
q little chloroform on my handkerchief held
out as bait led him very easily along 10
| 10 town where | arrived about daylight much
! 10 the surprise of the villagers. A conven-
lent log cav stable was made Ia serve as n
cage for the huge fellow, for IA few days,
! when q travelling Snowman bought him OF
me for $3.50. My! but he was u daisy. Yesl
! it WAS big ONE mean the deer.
WAHD.