The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-02-27
THE WHITE DEER.
By George EtheIbert walsh.
LaaaaNNNNNNNNN aNNNNNONaNNNNa


around in the dense woods drifts we're
heaped high. Donald Stalworth, with
enowshoes sinking deep in the tlaky
crust, stood painting with his exertions.
The mighty stiffness Of the words OPP
pressed him. Overhead the dull clouds
were murky and threatening.
Il must be five miles from home"
Donald muttered. 1T will be a hard
pull, and there's more snow coming
He rested some moments against
heavily laden birch tree, whose white
bark he mechanically stripped on.
While engaged in this occupation ne
heard a noise which aroused the natur-
al instincts Of the hunter. 1t was
faint bleat of a deer, but with a strange
~ pitiful plant in it that made Don
aid exclaim:
whats up? Something is wrong!
It must be a wolf or dog!"
The possibility of a stray dog in the
great lonely woods was not great, and
he soon dismissed that view from MIND
1T must be wolves or some other
wild beast wonder how far it Isl"
He listened intently, applying his
ear to the surface Of the snow. The
dismal cry of the deer was repeated
at intervals, growing fainter at every
call. Suddenly Donald looked up at
the sky anxiously, and then down the
trail which led to his home. But with
a new resolve he frightened the strap
of one Of his snowshoes, picked up
his rife. and started off in another di-
rection.
q must find out the trouble" he
said between his clencned teeth.
Tired though he was he Slid along
on his snowshoes with agility, anC
quickly passed beyond the opening il
the forest to the thickest part of it
From this direction came the strange
\ bleat of the deer. Five minutes later hi
Bstood in an open glade with one o
those rare sights of animal struggles
pictured before him that is allowed t
the fortunate few. Two large bucks
stood facing each other, with lowered
heads, and horns interlocked in dead
ly embrace. In their fierce struggle 10
the mastery their horns had becom
entWined so that neither could escape
Back and forth in the small openin
EhBy had been plunging, pushing, shoY
ing, and pulling, hoping to break tn
deadly embrace but all they had &C
complished was to pack the snow har
under their feet and tighten the fearfr
grip of the horns.
Donald stood a moment in gurpris
and amazement watching the struj
4 Cling. doomed animals. No power {
their own could ever release them. On
might prove the stronger and gradua
" tire out his opponent but death
either one meant lingering starvatio
to the other. To be interlocked wit
the horns of dead deer was no VII
tory to anticipate.
Both animals appeared torealize the
lIanger. Instead of bucking and fgh
Ing with the fire of anger flashing
their eyes, they stood quiet and trem
ling, bleating pitifully for the he
which might never come. NothiT
could break the lock of the terrib
horns.
well this is conundrum," I
marked Donald with whistle. "If
shoot them both it will relieve the
Of lingering death; but can't tai
home their bodies, and if leave the
here the wolves will soon make WI
with them"
He stood idly by, gazing at the al
mails, while the two bucks stood qui
as if waiting for his verdict. A fl
away cry of a wolf suddenly ma
EN- SILVER with fear, and one ute
\ a half-broken plea for help. TT
reused Donald to say
"I'll get them out of the trouble il
can. It's a shame to leave them here
be killed by wolves. But it will ia
time!"
He glanced up at the gatheri
signs of a new storm, and at the dal
aning landscape around; but as if f
Jgetful of his own danger he stepp
&b to the two struggling animals. TIL
WINGED and renewed the struggle
he placed hand on their heads. I
they were helpless and unable to ma
resistance.
Nov keep quiet" he said soothi
IN stroking them with his hand. I
ierequired some effort on his part
induce them to be quiet while he st
led the problem before him. The hot
were locked in one Of the simpl
ways imaginable, but nothing wo
- s..1- 4bo an, hrooo ,4rIaes IL