The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-12-14

ged mountains in the background.
1t was pretty good shot to make,
but both men felt that they were equal
to it, and arranged the sights on thei-
rifles with great care. Both shot at
once, and the same instant the entire
flock disappeared. Roberts ran to the
ridge and looked over on the other
side, but could see no sign of the deer
They had vanished into thin air, and
he felt peculiar fear that made him
get back to the fire and his friend as
quickly as possible. 1t was very mys-
terious and night was coming on.
In the morning they went back to
the camp of the afternoon before and
waited; But it was not long before
they saw the deer ON the hilltop grazing
peacefully.
Both men were reluctant about
shooting, but when they pulled their
triggers there was exactly the same
result as on the evening before.
They reached the top of the ridge
and plainly saw the footprints of the
animals. The ridge went up from the
floor of the valley in gentle. gradual
slope, but when the top was reached it
stopped abruptly and a bluff several
feet high went down on the other side
1t was now evident that the deer must
have been on the edge of this bluff, and
the instant the shots were fired jumped
over the side and SO disappeared.
The men followed the way it seemed
the deer must have gone. They jumped
down the bluff, and there saw a clump
of brush and the white mist arising
from it. Both were almost afraid to go
near the brush, but at that moment n
rafting III it made both men raise their
rifles. The next moment they saw n
wounded white deer jump out and at
tempt to run. They fred and it fell
dead. There was nothing supernatural
about that, and the dust that arose
from the bushes explained the cause of
the white mist that had been seen ris.
ing over the hill. Looking down into
the bushes, Roberts said that the brush
grew on a bank and directly below it
was a deep hole, which investigation
showed to be cave that went deep I'M
derground. The tracks and broken
brush showed that the deer had gone
in there, and SO disappeared from the
face of the earth.
Both men now thought they had all
the game they could carry off and start
ed inside, but had gone but few steps
when they were called to a halt,
and found that tall old man, only
N out hale dracSa1 ao1 e,rro,,D3al l,y,
the herd of white deer, had u bead on
them with a pair of large-bore re-
volverS They stopped.
what do you want here?" asked the
voice behind the revolvers.
Both men were too frightened on ac-
count of the surprise, and had dropped
their rifles on the ground.
sit down there" said the voice
again, and Frank lin and Roberts did as
they were told.
They had no disposition to argue the
point with the man, as he kept them
covered all the time. He then COM
menced to ask them all sorts of ques-
tons, and the deer stood by as if they
comprehended it all. The old mans
harangue lasted for long time, but
finally he said he was certain they were
the two men who had killed two of the
deer the night before, and now he
would have to kill them. But he
wouldn't shoot. No; that would be too
good for those who had dared to kill
the pets of the Great White Spirit. But
what would he do? That was ques-
ton that troubled HIM deeply. He
walked up and down, while the deer
followed him closely, and would occa-
sionally bury his face in his hands
At last he seemed to forget the two
men and began to murmur some mar
ticulate words. Both of his captives
now began to see way out of the fix,
as it became apparent the man was
sort of maniac.
Watching their chance, they grabbed
their rifles when his back was turned,
and when he faced them he found him.
self gazing into the muzzles of a couple
of Winchesters. The poor creature
howled in agony and begged for his
life. The men took his revolvers and
then attempted to find out who he was.
But he would not say much, except
that he had been there for many years
and was q servant of the great white
spirit
Franklin ard Roberts were standing
with their backs to the entrance and
had lowered their rifles now that the
only man was unarmcd. Their ques.
tioning was becoming tiresome when
suddenly the old man made a move
with his arms, and before the hunters
gould realize what had happened the
entire herd of deer had jumped toward
them and knocked them down and be.
gan running out of tie cave, trampinQ
on them as If they were so much dirt
1t all happened SO quickly and the
shock was so great they were stunned
for a moment
When the tramping ceased the men
jumped up and found they were alone
in the cave. Both were considerably
bruised but managed to get to the en-.
trance in time to see the herd vanish.
ing over hill a few hundred yards
away Whether the old man was with
them or not they couldn't tell. They
still had his revolvers, but he had dis.
appeared. He must have gone with the
deer, as he was not in the back part OF
the cave. They couldn't find him any.
where around, and what became of him