Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05

to be found hunters lodges are sporting
up like mushrooms and are housing the
advance guard of an army of enthusiasts,
To be sure it is a small army, but then
most of the soldiers are well drilled and
are not prone to that frightful ailment
knosn as buck fever City men, too,
many of them, but nowadays a city man
is as expert with both rod and gun as are
half the guides.
Perhaps It nay be thought strange that
there should be so great a revival Of deer
hunting In New York State. but If the
man who wonders will bark back a year
or two, it will come TO him that the New
York Legislature at its last session but
one passed n law prohibiting hunting
deer with dogs and i'm various other ways,
which were both cruel and unsportsman-
like This law has been more rigidly
enforced than almost any other of the
game-laws of the State. TO be sure,
just as in the old days Of Robin Hood
and Friar Tuck, a haunch Of venison
hangs in the cabin Of some of the
foresters at times of year that ii would
not do TO let the game-warden view II,
but nobody grudges that, just so long as
the general spirit of the law is obeyed.
The floating for deer at night on the
placid bosom of lake or river is an ex-
perience most charming and weird
Seated In the bow of the frail cedar
boat with skilful guide and paddle
at the stern, you are propelled past
rocky headlands and alder swamp,
through acres OF lily-pads. that CRATE and
scrape against the sides of your frail
craft, past sandy beach and marshy
shores. slowly or swiftly, as the occasion
requires. and with absolute silence as
success will depend upon your silent APP
proach 10 your game as his majesty
splashes around in the water Riding
himself of the flies and mosquitoes. and
feeding on a tempting lily-bud, or water
grasses.
For hours you listen for these welcome
sounds At last as you approach
favorable feeding ground, splash Is
heard near the shore that sets the blood
10 leaning and tells you the supreme mo-
mont has arrived Your heart beats
faster and faster. Tightening your grip
on your rife. you cautiously remove the
cover from the jack, a stream OF light is
cast through the darkness ahead or the
hoal and in It's pathway, relieved against
the eloomv forest background stands the
Monarch of the Forest, his antlered head
erect. and eyes looking out at you ike
two balls OF fire. with nerves III
tremor YOU bring your gun to your
shonlder thoughts OF buck fever na~
rbroueh your mind. the chagrin Of possi-
HE failure Gains you a bit. Now, with
tr,e sportsman's instinct, you cover your
Game with both sights aiming directly
between those eyes of fire, ana pun the
trigger.
The nainful stiffness of hours is broken
nv the report Of your gun, which SOUNDS
ike a cannon, echoing and reverberating
from mountain TO mountain. The guide
swiftly propels the boat forward Your
heart beats prodigiously loud, as your
who has not spoken above
whisper for hours. now says in grained
tones: "Well. you've got him. YES you
made n good shot. There he lays In the
water ahead. He's fallen almost IN MS
tracks"
New the boat is alongside, you step out
INFO the, shallow water and with some
IittIe difficulty the buck is lifted into your
canoe Substituting oars for the padd'e' |
vou head the boat for camp. You nave
,orrncved a considerable distance away. |
yo,,r guide informs you that II is aoonS
s,eht miles: after rowing for what seems
- no several hours you begin TO discern
'a.,dnarixs on adjoining shores, ana pre-
sartlv the boat ploughs up into the soi'
and on the beach III front Oh camp. ine
800 ore awake as the dawn OF Gay IL
,,yroacbing. They hurry out 10 meet
,ou end how they open their sleepy eyes
d The game Is removed from the poat
md hung upon a convenient limb OF
rec. ,aLa |
The steward and his assistants maze
immediate preparations for breakfast.
rhe fire is soon built. the pan cakes ere
'eing stirred the coffee is prepared. ana
DON Juicy steaks of venison are po'iins.
The potatoes are boiled. and ADDING inc
ome made jam and bread ana outer
q the menu. breakfast u ready.
,rbis "a tina first day IN camp. ~ tns