Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-01

the bright sunlight
Hars heart still beat fast, his hand
was on his rifle, and he was trying
hard to control the trembling of his
body. He knew all about this agita-
ton at the first sight of noble game,
and he knew it must be controlled if
he wanted to makes a good shot.
Yet in his excitement he could not
help being impressed with the rare
beauty of the picture-the recumbent
doe, the fawn again lying by her side,
the buck standing not far behind them,
his head raised high, and in the back
ground the water, the trees and the
sky. Hal eagerly asked himself If it
would be possible to take a photograph
before he fired. He had not answered
his own question before there was a
sudden change in the appearance Of
the buck. With a quick movement he
turned his head toward the water, his
ears bent forward, his eyes dilated and
from his mouth came a strange, shrill,
whistling sound. He was frightened;
Hal could see nothing, could hear
nothing that seemed to indicate dan
ger, but the deer had sharper senses
than his. Probably it was only fox
on the other side Of the water. Deer
are often very much afraid of foxes,
although we know of no good reason
why they should be. But no matter
what the cause the buck was alarmed
His antlers trembled as if his whole
body were pervaded by sudden tre-
NOR.
The terror OF tie buck instantly COM
| municated itself to the doe and fawn;
the one half-raised herself from the
ground, turning her head toward the
water, and the little fellow sprang to
his feet.
1t was wonderful picture. Hal had
never seen an engraving or painting
which showed group of deer at mo-
ment of such intense nervous excite
ment. But it was also wonderfully
good opportunity for a shot.
| There was no time for deliberation.
The buck raised his head still higher
and leaned little toward the wood;
the doe sprang to her feet; the little
fawD slightly crouched as If about TO
make bound-and Hal felt that what
ever was to be done must be done in
stantly. He seized the camera.
Click! 1t was over.
At that moment the buck turned his
head away from the water, the doe
| leaned forward. there were three sud
| den bounds and the startled animals
had plunged into the bushes and out of
sight.
Hal sat down on the ground and
leaned his back against the rock. At
ter his excitement there came a reac-
| tion; he did not want to do anything
but just sit there. He was tired, he
was disappointed, he was happy. He
sat there long time, now thinking of
| the bucks head, with its branching
| antlers, which might have hung ON the
wall above his desk; thinking of the
| little fawn and its petulant way of
| stamping its hoofs upon the ground;
| thinking of the tender-eyed doe so gen
| tly and steadfastly giving her little son
a needed lesson in life; thinking of the
grand buck, still alive and unharmed,
standing in safety somewhere in the
| depths of the forest.
When Mr.. Clayton came back he
found his son still sitting by the rock.
Well" he said, "did you see buck?"
"Oh, yes" said Hal.
did he give you a chance for a
shot?"
Yes" said Hal, "a fine one"
Mr.. Clayton looked about, but saw
nothing which betokened that his son
| had shot a deer. What" said he,
did you miss him."
NO" said Hal, and then. seeing his
| father was completely nystified, he
told his story.
Mr.. Clayton stood silent for a few
| moments, looking at his son. well"
said he, II don't know that / should
have been able to do that, but l should
be glad to believe l might have been
able"
The story OF Eal Clayton's deer hunt
spread rapidly through the little camp,
which was composed of four or five
| families, all very well acquainted. In
the course of the afternoon Hal took
his fishing rod and went to the edge
OF n lake about half mile from the
camp. There he met party of his
boy friends, all busy fishing.
Hello, Halr' cried one of them.
What are you doing with that rod?
Why didn't you bring your camera?
If II fish should stick its head out of
the water you would not be able to
photograph it,"
He did not like this style Of talk, but
he made no answer. Then Sam Curtis,
the biggest boy of the little company,
addressed him.
Hal" said he, "can you tell me how
it feels to be Il molycoddy?"
"a what?" exclaimed Hal, the blood
rushing to his face.
"A mollycoddy," replied Sam. That's
what you are. You haven't any busi-
ness to go hunting and fishing. You
| pnpht tp OF with tIo civil, ,,loy