The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-21
AN ARKANSAS DEER HUNT.

land, and being keen sportsmen de-
cided to avail themselves ofthe chance
of lifetime to enjoy Il deer hunt on
horseback.
They were in; a wild, sparsely settled
mart Of the state where deer abounded,
and as every lankv, ague-stricken
native possessed not less than one
gaunt, hungry-looking hound for
every tow-headed child that called
him daddy" those who know how
large proportion of the population OF
the state is composed of tow-headed
children will readily understand that
our sportsmen anticipated no trouble
in securing large and variegated
pack of hounds.
1t was therefore without a misgiving
that they reined in their horses beside
the rough rail fence surrounding a
rude log cabin. Within and scattered
about the inclosure were several tow
heads, who scuttled shyly away at the
approach of the strangers. Seated IN
the open door of the cabin was dirty
faced, sorrowful-l looking woman, who
listlessly eyed our party through the
half closed lids of her watery blue
eyes.
"Good morning, madam" ventured
the spokesman. "IsY your husband at
home ?"
The woman rose languidly to her
feet, removed the snuff stick from her
mouth and discharged a volume OF
liquid extract of tobacco. A ,gaunt
sow of the razor back variety, training
at her heels numerous progeny,
pushed from under the cabin, gavetan
inquiring grunt at the northerners and
began roofing industriously in the
ground at the woman's feet. :! I,
,"The fust place, my name ain, t
madam the woman replied, draw
lingly, IAN in th' secon' place, my
husban' amt 'ome. Eff yer tn she'ift
COM ter 'rest i'm, yer'n be 'bleeged
ter ride further" :,
She was assured that the party had
no designs upon her husbands liberty,
but to secure the loan Of a pack of
hounds was their. mission.
"We amt got no houn's an
never had none," she replied, still
suspicious, as she walked to the fence:
"Say, thar, mister" she exclaimed
excitedly, pointing to the hand of one
of the party, amt that thing er
dimont ?'
"It IS" the owner of the diamond re-
piled. "Would you like to look at it ?'
he asked, drawing from bis finger q
ring in which a small diamond was
set. 30.
"An' ken I take it in my own
ham ?" she asked eagerly. 49,, Y
Certainly" was the reply. Put II
on your finger and see how it looks
there" H..
With the light of other days shin
ing in her faded eyes, she tremblingly
pushed the ring on her bony, knotted
forefinger. Slowly she turned he1
hand about, watching with pleased
childlike expression the scintillations
of the stone. Then, with sigh. the
ring was withdrawn and returned to
the owner.
"Whut wus it you said erbout
wantin' ter borry some houns' !" she
asked, after moments silence.
"We simply wish to borrow the
dogs for tomorrow, when we intend
having deerhunt."
"Wall,n she replied, hesitatingly,
81 reckin'I I kin get yer some." Then
walking briskly to the cabin door. she
took down long cowhorn that hung
on nail, and, placing it to her lips
blew three loud blasts. A moment
later we heard musical notes of an
answering blast come from somewhere
in the dense woods back of the cabin
1t was not a great while before 8
man, who carried in his hand long
barreled rifle, appeared on the further
side of the clearing and cautiously
approached the party.
,"Hit's all right, jake the woman
shouted, "they amt after you"
.Mornin' strangers. Light an
come in. Th' oil, woman'll have er
snack ready in er minute" the man
called cheerily. "Houn's? Yes sir
rec bob. You shooly have struck the
right place fer houn's. I've got fifteen,
big am little, an Brer Bill, who lives
acrost Chicken Thief creek, he's got
er dozen er mo-. AM then OF man
Golight, over on Pigeon Roost, has
got nigh onter twenty.
He was informed that fifteen would
be sufficient, provided they would run
a deer.
"Humph," he grunted contemptuou-
sly, "they'll run anything fur rabbit
to er yelerphant."
The sun had just risen the next
morning when the party again drew
rein at the cabin.
"Morpin' gentlemen. Light an
have er rsnack. Wall, eff yer won't yer
won't, I reckon. I'd go with yer, but
Nv got some business to tend ter over
yan," the Arkansan added apollo
getically, pointing to the woods back
of the cabin. "Better take thish yeah
hawn, er tn dawgs won't foller."
In his younger days one of the party
had learned the art of extracting from
a cows horn the few notes of which it
is capable, and after number of
ludicrous failures he succeeded finally
in awakening the interest of the dogs,
and with the pack trailing behind,
the party rode away. Soon they
reached the end of the, river bottom
and the hunt began. Striking off
from the road into the jungle of bush
es and cane, lofty trees and innumer-
able interlacing vine, they carefully
picked their way along a cow path,
the hounds far in, advance. The sun
was well, on towards the meridian
before sound was heard from the
dogs. Then the musical, haE-mourn.
full crySof hound was heard. Soon
another Joined, in, then another and
another, until the entire pack was in
full cry. .,
Needless of the singing blows of
cane and bushes, the hunters whipped
uptheir horses stumbling and founder
ing through the switch cane and vines,
and they were pretty well spent when
stretch of open woods was reached.
Far in advance the hindmOSt dnps.