The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-16

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the water was so deep that she was
obliged 10 swim.
Hal thought that the little fawn now
became possessed with the fear tha'
he was going 10 lose his mother; thai
! she intended 10 cross the water and
leave him where he was. Made brave
by this anxiety he forget everything ir
the frantic desire 10 be with her, wher
ever she might be going or whatever
she might be doing, and he plunged
into the cold water. He splashed and
| kicked and tried 10 jump, but In min
ute he was out Of his depth padding
as fast as he could toward the doe
who was waiting for him.
Hal watched these proceedings with
the most lively interest. II was plain
enough that the little creature, like
nearly all animals except man, was
able 10 support himself in the water
and 10 swim without being taught "a
do so. but It also seemed plain 10 Hal
that the fawn did not like cold water,
and would need good deal Of educa-
tion by example before he would have
proper confidence In himself and run 10
water If pursued.
On he went, with not much more
than his head out Of the water, and
working his little legs with an excited
energy that soon took him 10 his moth
or. Then she swan gently round him,
putting her head close TO his, and ap-
parently endeavOring 10 encourage him.
But the fawn did not want encOur'
agement He wanted his mother 10 20
back 10 the shore, and to take him with
her, and as soon as he got chance he
made as If he would climb on her back.
This pulled her down In the water, ana
so. without any regard for the feelings
Of her son, she shook him off and swan
to little distance, moving toward the
shore.
The fawn followed, trying his best
10 reach his mother and compel her 10
carry him, but without leaving him far
behind she kept out OF his reach, al
though she always kept her eyes on
bim, and seemed TO be urging him 10
swim ashore without her help.
In a short time the doe was standing
on dry land. and when the fawn could
touch bottom he gave great bound
mp the shelving beach. ana began rae
ing backward and forward as If TO get
warm by exercise. Meanwhile his
mother stood looking at him with cvi-
dent pride. Although his temper may
have been ruflled by the way his moth
er had treated him. he was now M
happy as any little fawn could he. He
had already forgotten he had ever
been afraid OF the water.
The doe. having performed her moth
or duty, lay down in n sunny spot to
dry herself, aud the fawn. ever willing
to emulate her in this respect stretched
himself on the ground beside her, not
I'm the graceful attitude she had as
sumcd, but with his slender legs reach
ing out in four directions, his head
resting upon the ground.
In all the time he had been watching
the performances of the doe and the
fawn Hal had not even thought of his
rifle. To shoot at any time. or under
any circumstances, little fawn and
its alfcctionate mother would have
been not only unspOrtsmanlikc and IL
legal but shamefully cruel. And now
after the boy had, in n manner, made
the acquaintance of the pair, and had
taken SO much interest I'm the swim
ming lesson he would have felt almost
inclined TO shoot any one who should
dare To shoot that doe and fawn.
While he had been watching the
swimming scene he had forgotten the
camera, but now he remembered il,
and was just about 10 take a picture of
the fawn and it's mother resting after
their bath when the pretty creatures
made sudden movement. The fawn
raised its head and the doe, without
rising, turned her eyes in the direction
of the woods.
Instantly Hal put down his camera
and laid his hand upon his rifle His
heart beat fast. his whole body trem-
hlod. Something was coming; some
thing which deer were not afraid of,
for the fawn ana its mother Were not
in the least frightened. Could II he
what he had been expecting?
Something did come. and IL was eX'
actly what Hal had been expecting,
waiting for, longing for. Without the
slightest hesitation fine buck walked
out into the open. He did not look 10
the right, he did not look to the left,
he did not even dcign To look out over
the water. With a careless air he
threw n glance toward doe and fawn,
and then stepped forward to the water,
his manner indicating that he felt per
reason why lie should not present him
self 10 other deer as an example of
courageous self-relance.
He drank little water. he nibbled q
little grass, and then he stepped toward
the spot where the doe and fawn were
lying. He raised his head and appeared
10 be breathing with delight the warm
sunny air, SO different from the atmos
phere of the shaded depths OF the for
est Upon his head was n pair of mag
nificent antlers. every branch and point
of which showed clear and sharp In
the bright sunlight.
Halls heart still beat fast, his hand
was on his rifle. aud he was trying
hard TO control the trembling Of his
body lie knew all about this agita
tion at the first sight of noble game
and he knew IL must be controlled II
he wanted TO make n good shot.
Yet i'm his excitement he could not
help being impressed with the rare