The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-04-15
ON HUNTING THE STAG.
EXCITING DAY AMID THE
SCOTCH HIGHLANDS.
Tie Experience of nn American at q
- hooting Eox"-Wor!s of the Gl.lic,
the Dogs and tho Hunters
TIL, Stag at by.

During the autumn months the
fashionable world of England empties
itself into Scotland, the Sassenach's
first use OF his money being the pur-
chase of "a little shooting box" in tho
High lands, which he fills with parties
OF hunting men, culiyened by the
presence of the fair sex, who also of
late years have cultivated the sport,
and rival the lords oil creation in
fancy shots by the dantiest of silver
mounted guns OF featherweight.
The day dawns bright and cold,
with mist slowly circling in the
valleys, uncertain whether to give in
to the friendly beams of the sun or to
sulk itself by-and by into q drizzle.
But as yet it is only o silver fringe
about the feet of the grim old noun
tains. says S. Louis Republic
writer. and clings caressingly to tho
gowns and mustaches OF the party
setting out in search OF . stag re-
ported tho night before by y stalwart
young gillie. who marches in front.
At last the gillie drops suddenly to
all-fours. and in moment his cx-
ample is followed by the scribe. and
crashing through brambic and bush
By somo animal, and with a bound
tho stag is past us and gone. Tho
gillie looks around with an air OF in
quiry and n polite glance at his guest 3
gun. but that guest has no apology
to make. be NJ too disguised at his
own failure to kill the coveted game,
| and rather disposed to DC angry at
the gillie for not holding the stag for
moment until he recovered from HE
surprise. the gillie, of course, not
firing at the game, which is especially
for his masters own hunting and that
OF his friends.
In the meantime the stag, which
had evidently been startled by some
unguarded move on the part OF some
one of the hunters, has gone down
| the glen with quick, powerful leaps.
The gillie's comuanion is eager to
pursue over rocks and precipicc,
where only the feet OF thc stag him
self can find footing. but tho wise
Young Scotchman interposcs with
|
back when it sees the party at the
end OF the little valley.
BY this time the mist has grown
ambitious and climbed the IN 7nntain.
enveloping its grim sides with its
gray cloak. ard soon becomes slow,
cold drizzle. falling sullenly as II i,
was conscious OF HAVING done n cruel
thing in killing so bright n day. The
wind rises to n moan over the van
ishel sun OF the morning and sweeps
the wet, soddcn leaves of the noun
tain birches about the feet of the iut
ting stones. only to tear them away
the next moment 10 rcbank them else
where.
| But. living close to the drenched
earth with the rain in their faces. the
hunters await the return of the
game. Suddenly thee is wi.t
stampede of foct. n trampling dowr
of vegetation below us. and two stays
side by side. come ilceiny down the
| glen. One carries u bleeding wound
In his shoulder. and in the gray nj,
tho spouting drops OF blood look like
= shower OF finest rubies. The party
/
| como within rifle range OF the game.
But he bounds on as il unhurt,
throwing up his sp endid head with
its wide. magnificent antlers. as il
seeming dang ~ near him. although
| at loss whe'e to place 1t The
stately form with its slender legs now
set apart In its leaps the small. deli
cato head. with its soft intelligent
eyes, at tho present moment strained
and wild with fear. and the
satiny hide are clearly revealed
against the faded green of tho small
| trees and underground of the glen.
The hunters heart smites him for
the desire to put to death so glorious
q creature, whose very step is free
dom's own. but the dcbased craving
to Guido ones fellow man gets the
better OF the involuntary pity for the
| noble animal, the rifle sings out the
| death note, and the stag to the right
falls headlcng. and with SILVER OF
the beautiful frame is dead.
But with tho first rifle there had
sounded another from point jus,
above. and as the stag dies the hunter
hurries down from his more elevated
position and disputes the game with
the other. The dispute wakes hotter.
and is renewed at short intervals dur.
ing tho rest of the season and bids
fair to be settled only by the gore OF
one OF the contestants. This, while
the other stag bounds away unmo-
Tested. followed by only the sigh OF
the patient gillie. who. with two SOW
ereigns in view. refuses to decide the
dispute and get only one. But pres
emily the dogs that have been al
lowed to slip their lcashes give chase
to tho fleeing animal. and, overtaking
him near the little stream, drive him
to bay.
No wonder is il that great painter
found food for his genius in this awe
inspiring sight-a stag at bay. Turn
ing ON his yelping foes. he seems the
personification OF noble soul beset
BY petty enemies. grand even when
bounded to death. But II he is to
die it will not be alone. for with
honfs like knife blades and powerful
horns he rends the dogs that fall
back now and then only to return
with undated fury to the attack.
With sw n9 of his head he throws a
hound several feet, pierced by prong
of his antlers, while beneath his fee,
he grinds another into q shapeless
mass of flesh and bone. and at this