The broad ax., 1902-06-28

On the spot and lts surroundings mo-
ment before and saw nothing. slipped
down on the grass and into the trees
and worked very cautiously In that
direction. 4 shot doWnhin Is 30 De
ceptiye that hitting Is pure luck, ana !
sought a place on the same leVel-
| A stately buck he was. stopping for .
inal lunch on the tender shoots OK q
clump' OF vetch vines on the edge OK
| the stream His black nOstrils were
wet and shoue with the high polish OF
new patent leather. His form was well
rounded, his coat was smooth and
| glossy, and his spreading antlers full
grown. In the motions Of his eating.
every muscle moved and quivered. The
sight was so superb that II almost pre-
! Guided murder, and I sat with rife
half raised and watched for fully a
minute. His nostrils caught a breath
Of hostile odor, and he flung his head
high, poised for flight. but not quite
sure which way the danger lay. He
remembered the alarm downhill and
turned to look that way. The white
bead OF the front sight rested against
his curving neck. Just back OF the head,
and the white bead rested in turn on
the lower rim OF the circle OF the hind
peep-sIght. The sight was perfect
and the finger crooked against the
trigger almost without conscious voli-
ton.
A 1910 bullet In the cervIcal Verte-
brae SUITS out all power OF motion as
though Il were the fame OF a candle.
There was never a struggle, Just a
sudden collapse, and the beautiful ami
NAL lay In limp confusion sprinkling
blood upon the verdure where be had
Just been feeding. The hunters work
was done and what remained was mere
butchery. The rough surgery OF the
hunting knife must let out the blood
In q foaming torrent before the heart
ceases beating. and with the same flow
release the remnant OF life which sim
showed dimly in staring eyes. Then
must follow the smeary task OF dress
ing the carcass, which had been a deer
and was now venisOn- The raven few
from his perch and brushed through
the trees above. II seemed as though
the sound OF the shot had summoned
all the smaller pedatOry birds, the mag
pies and gray-jays. and could hear
their harsh cries approaching through
the trees, as they fiuttered closer and \
closer IN short flights. Before my
CORY task was done they were busy,
without fear for me. picking the dainty
hecks OF suet from the entrails, while |
two or three other ravens had Joined |
the pioneer and were scolding from
the tops OF the trees because I was so |
slow In completing my work and leav- |
ing them a clear field. l hung the
venison In a tree. protecting the ex-
posed meat with boughs, and washed |
hands and arms In the waters Of the
rilL Then struck out for camp. I'm
der the tail grass red-leayed plants
Rugged the ground. Drops OF dew had /
fallen on some OF them, making the
hOmeward path seem through a trail
OF fresh blood. The sun shone down
on the valley hot and ungentle. Il
seemed as though the whlrring grass
hoppers unduly extended their flights
to escape my presence. A startled
grouse, breakfasting I'm a bear-berry
bush, instead OF rising to the nearest
tree, whirred away clear across to the
foot OF the mountain, where It tapped
deep into a tree as though murder was
behind It, AS came up into camp
the horses scented the blood and snort
ed as IL ! were some strange wild ami
NAL and moved uneasily on their pick
et-rOpes.
She had just awakened and was
looking with sleepy eyes out into the
sunny world.
Fresh meat" cried.
"oh, did you get 4 deer? Cidn't
know you were gone until Just before
heard you shoot" Her eager interest /
famed up I'm question about the events
'f the chase, and then, In a reverie-
Zone OF those pretty. pretty things.
How could you % it7-Outing.