The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-05-12
CHAPTER XI.-Continued.

"That's odd," said Roscoe, looking
askant at the turbid stream. "Why is
it so, do you suppose?"
"Its full of big catfish" answered
Mr.. Dancey.
Capt. Prewett turned toward him
with look of disgust on his face.
"Well," he exclaimed, ''you needn't
be uneasy; you wasn't born to be drown
ed," and he turned away.
Perhaps if he had seen the lurid hate
that cleaned upon him for an instant
from those muddy eyes he would not SO
lightly have turned his thoughts else
where. When across the river they
struck into the painless wilderness,
taking due southwest course. They
had proceeded in this direction about a
mile, when Capt. Prewett checked his
horse. 81 believe old Busters about to
strike a trail," he said.
Roscoe looked at the brindle hound
indicated and saw that he was busily
smelling of the twigs and grass around
him, occasionally thrusting his nose
into tufts and shifting the ground sus-
piciously.
eff we start deer along here, what
shall do to get a shot at it?" inquired
Roscoe.
"You just listen which way the dogs
seem to be running, and keep alongside
of them as near as you can. The deer
will turn first one way and then another
and is as likely as not to come right tC
you. Keep as near the dogs as you can
and when you lose them stop right
where you happen to be till you heal
my horn. Then holler back to me anG
come toward me; but don't try to &c
through any tall cane, for you won'1
find any deer there, and you might gel
into a ID OF a FIX"
Capt. Prewett gave these directions
himself, keeping his eye on Buster all
the time. At that moment the dog
seemed to make up his mind, for he
threw up his head and uttered a long
low, musical cry that reverberated
through the forest like the note of a
mellow horn.
"Now for itw exclaimed the Captain
his form expanding and his eye flash
ing. keep as close to him as you can
Good fellow! Good Buster! Whoop
go for him, boy!" rang out his stentor
ian voice.
For few minutes the hunters slowly
followed the dogs, stopping now and
then while they hunted for the trail
but the pack began to close up on il
and to lead out faster, until it took
brisk riding to keep up with them. AL
at once with one accord they redoubleC
their outcries and dashed rapidly for
ward with their noses high in the air
taking the scent from the twigs anC
cane through which they ran. At this
moment Mr.. Dancey diverged suddenly
to the left and urged his bony steei
into trot.
"Where are you going, Dancey?'
shouted the Captain.
"Im going to the head of 'Possun
Lake, over here; maybe he'll cross
there:" and he was gone.
Capt. Prewett reined up his horse
and stared after the ungainly figure il
blank astonishment.
"Now, don't that beat hog afying!'
he exclaimed.
"What::" inquired Roscoe.
''How the devil does he know any
thing about 'Possum Lake? I didn'
know he was ever here in his life." ST.
saying, he put his spurs to his hors'
and dashed at break-neck speed afte
the dogs. \ \ \ Nearer and near
err came the dogs. Where can tn
deer be! An opening free from trees
covered with weeds about yard high
was just beyond him. He jumped from
the log and ran to it's nearer edge. All
a silver-grey animal, with high branch
ing antlers, comes leaping with lon@
graceful bounds from the other side
He tries to cover it with his gun; bu
now in the air, now out of sight, b.
finds it impossible. Ere he is aware o
it the deer is among large trees that in
terfere with his aim, and in mortife,
despair he lowers his gun without fir
ing, for he knows it is useless to fire a
random. "I won't tell Capt. Prewet
of this he muttered. The deer wa
going straight to the root of the fallel
tree upon which he had been standing
Suddenly it stopped. Its keen sense o
smell had detected the presence of it
enemy. 1t gazed warily around. Thel
it changed its course and came directl,
toward him. When it was within fift,
feet of him he shot it down in the mids