River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-10-26

Zach dav the various members OF the I
party were stationed at different points
around the pond, where deer were
most likely To- take "a water when pur
sued by the hounds. Every watcher
was equipped with a light Sarauac
boat and a repeating rifle. IL deer
was seen swimming at any distance
from a underground. the nearest
hunter put ont in iis boat and tried 10
cut IL oft from shore. II he succeeded
in doing this Tie could easily shoot the
deer, Eut IL required a sharp eve and
a strong oar 20 secure the necessary adj
vantage, especially when high wind
was blowing and every running wave
IN the distance looked like a deer's
head. The watchers were usually sta
stoned al considerable distances apart,
and, owing To tine irregular shape of
the pond, could seldom see each others
Hvatch-grounds.
Robin Rock was a great bOwlder,
aIear tn, head of the pond. upon which
a man was always stationed when the
guides were putting out the dogs. as
just above il there was favsrite run
way for deer 10 come down To the wa
ter.
one perfectly still day, toward the
close Of October. IL fell To INV lot to
guard this territory. and I rOwed up
therc ia great hone of securing a shot.
n the dogs were 20 lee pint nut an the
west sid, az ~. pond. which usually
resulted in driving deer in 1t the head.
drew aly boat up on a little shelf AT
the foot Of rock. leaving the oars on
the pins. with their blades crossed over
the stern. - that he boat would De
ready fnr immediate use Then I took
my rifle aud climbed mp To- the fiat top
of tine rock. where / could overlook
the shores and the water for long dis
rance ia either direction.
The sun was unusually bright and
warm for a day ,o late in tho season.
There was not breath of wind. and
the pond lav before me as smooth as If
il had been frozen. could heav the
slightest sounds the scrambling OF the
red squirrels over tEe trunks aud limbs
IF the bal>ams beniud me: the low
''chip-chip' of the chickadess. and the
rustic of their wings a. they flew from
spot u spot; the hoar>e. far-off cry of
the mountain ravens, and even the dip
and rattle Of my nearest neighbours
.'ars. Is he turned into his watch
ground. a hasf-nilc or more below
mime, and ont Of sight II was an idyl-
Die, absolutely perfect autumn day The
hills and mountains all around were
srurgcOu, with color and their reflection
in the CLASSY water of the pond looked
lii5e broad crystal hoor of the most
splendid mesiac-
7 lay for an hour or more on the top Of
Robin Rock. drinking in the beauty of
tite scene amt enjoying the genial
warmth Of the sun. Then. away cit in the
hills u the southwest. I heard u sound
which caused mc to start up 10 a sit
ting posture and draw my rifle cautious
Is acru>s nv lap. II was the first faint
hay 81 hound. which the guide had
Just started upon fresh deer track
knew that the game was afoot. and
that Il hchoovcd me 10 keep careful
and constant lookout over that portion
of the pond which could be seen from
Robin Rock
The forenoon. however. wore away
without bringing the game To water
Hound after hound was started. and
c,,uld hear the music of the chase. now
swelling. now dying ont among the
hills. hut never coming near enough to
the pond to make my heart leap with
that keen expectancy which every deer
hunter knows n the bugles of the
hounds sweep near his stand
ate INV lunch and again stretched
myself ont on the rock IN aimlesS med
itation NV face was turned toward
the head of the pond l could see the
entire eNpanse of the oval-shaped bay
even distinguish the lily-pads which
dotted the water near the farther shore
A. ! lay thus looking across the
water. there came suddenly within NY
field of vision-as suddenly a. II il had
risen mp like a uaiad from the depths
brncath-thc full-antlcrcd head of a
magnificent buck. 1t was steadily /
moving out toward the center Of the /