Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-09-04
By a. L. DUANE.
rCopyrighp, 1897, by the Author.]

CONTINUED from Wednesday,
For two weeks felt as though had
alighted upon an enchanted shore,
where all the inhabitants were clever,
devoted friends and beautiful, charming
women. The third week Jim and l set
off early one morning to a lick where
they said deer were to be found.
We rode ON horseback for several
miles and then, leaving the horses, crept
through the underbrush as cautiously as
possible. When we came out to the
water hole, we saw by the tracks about
that we were too late Doubtless the
animals had come and gone again. There
was nothing to be done but stay about
the place until evening, when they
would doubtless come again.
We had brought a lunch with us, and
we ate that, fearing to smoke cigars on
account of the 4odor. Twenty times, l
think, Jim wished that we had brought
Madge with us. The day seemed very
long without her, and as she was cap
ital shot and had never killed deer she
would doubtless be very indignant at
our creeping cut in the early morning
and leaving her.
We were hungry and tired long before
time for the deer to come down to the
water again, but we had made up our
minds to stay, as our deer shooting had
been anything but lucky this season.
1t was just at dusk on the mountain,
when we heard the swapping of tw1g
that told of the light hoof of deer APP
preaching. Jim had placed himself be-
hind a log Oh one side, and l was in
proup of trees and small brush ON an
other.
Almost simultaneously with the first
footstep came another, seemingly almost
behind me. The first deer emerged from
the forest and stood still like a bronze
statue in the dull light. He, too, SEEM
ed to hear that other step, and, lifting
his antlered head aloft, seemed to snuff
the air.
went crazy. 1 lifted my rifle and
fired, and, hardly waiting to see him
toss up his head, sprang out into the
opening. I never once thought of con-
sidering that the buck would or could
do me harm. He made one lunge toward
me. his head lowered, when there came
the sharp crack of a rifle behind me, and
the deer fell over forward dead, carry
| ing me down with him.
In another second Jim was by me,
and inns sister Madge was holding my
head.
| "Bravo. Madger' Jim was saying.
| with world of tender pride i'll his
| voice. "That was the prettiest thing l
ever saw anybody do. y
ssIs he hurt?'' was all she said.
was hurt, ard lst then 1t was con-
yenient to faint {. ' away.
The fall and shock had dislocated my
shoulder. | don't know how they
brought me back home. L only remem-
Der the journey as a confusion OF pain
There was country doctor, "a nat
eral hone setter about ten miles away
| on the mountain, and he came and set
NV shoulder and bandaged it and as
| sured me that it ''jest wasn't nothin, y
but for several days l had most I'M
pleasant low fever. After that they rig
ged me hammock chair so that 1 could
sit out ON the veranda, and Madge Blall
took care of me. hope l felt as broth
er toward her.
Toward the end of the fourth week
began to grow nervous. l must be bach
in Baltimore and arrive with the Ella.
knew that my life would hardly bt
worth living if / went home and told
Julia that had not only been in the
mountains when she thought / was il
France, but had been hurt and had moi
sent for her, but instead had let my Life