Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-10-01
TY, MISSOURI THURSDAY, OCTOBER /, 1908
Written for the Ledger.
A C0SE SHAVE.
pY W. W. cLENpENIN.

To see one Of the big bucks standing
on mountain peak, inst as old sol
begins to peep over the grand old
Sierras, is a beautiful sight, and to
knock him all-heels-up at long range
makes the lucky hunter feel like he
was a crack shot. The writer has
spent many pleasant and enjoyable
days hunting this beautiful animal in
the coast range and now that his
hunting days are over he often looks
back to those never-to-be-forgotten
days and wishes that he could take a
whaek at 'em again.
Many night, when the fall moon
was shining almost as light as day,
after having partaken of hearty sup
per Of nicely roasted fat venison ribs,
have / sat with my comrades by the
camp fire under the wide spreading
branches Of an oak tree, with several
big fat bucks hanging to the lower
limbs, fruits Of the days hunt, and
swapped stories until it was time to
turn In. Wrapped In our heavy
blankets, with the naked ground for a
mattress, we slept as sweetly and
soundly as tired little kid in bis crib,
and the screech of a puma In the
brush close by, or the loud snort Of a
passing grizzly never disturbed our
slumbers, for we feared them not.
1t was after a ride of thirty miles
over the rough mountains on hot
October day that we reached the
southwestern foot Of Black mountain
on the Aroya Bayou, about O'Clock
ln the afternoon. When we camped
we were very tired and as hungry as a
pack Of famished wolves, but after
partaking Of hearty meal, washing
| 1t down with lpure Adams ale, we
were greatly refreshed and shouldering
our trusty rifles we struck out in diff
ferent directions In search Of big
game.
l started up deep, narrow canyon
and had gone but few hundred yards
from camp when big buck jumped
up before me and started up the can
yon as though he had very urgent
business elsewhere. / caught bead
on him as he rose high in the air and
at the crack Of the rifle l saw him
drop his tail and hump his back and l
knew that he was badly hit, but he
soon plunged into an impenetrable
chapparal thicket and knew that 1t
was useless to follow him.
l then climbed up the precipitous
side Of the canyon until reached open
ground and ascending to the top Of a
narrow ridge l took a survey of the
surrounding landscape. AS no game
was to be seen l started down the
west side of the ridge, but had not
gone more than fifty yards when l was
startled by a loud crashing among the
loose rocks on the opposite side Of the
ridge and l thought that a big grizzly
was after me.
AS l did not want to be caught ON
the steep side of the mountain l turn
ed around and walked rapidly to the
top of the ridge, preparing to meet the
bear, If it should be one, where l
would have a better show to fight
him. / felt greatly relieved when /
looked over the ridge and saw the
head of a big forked-horned buck
standing about forty yards below me.
Thinking that l could break his neck
/ drew a bead on his throat and at the
crack of the rifle he dropped like a
log and lay kicking on the ground.
While was reloading my gun l saw
little yearling doe coming towards
the fallen buck and fired at her, but
missed her and she lit out In hurry.
AS l was reloading again the old buck
got up and run like race horse out
into the low chimisel brush about one
hundred yards and then fell and rolled
about fifty yards down the steep side
Of the ridge. When l got to him 1
found him lying on his side with his
neck doubled under his body and /
thought that he was dead, but 1 soon
discovered that the old fellow was
only playing possum. l then laid my
rifle on the ground and picked up
forty-pound rock and with both hands
/ threw it with all my power square
against his forehead, but 1t didn't
faze him, for as quick as a flash he
was on his feet again and coming
straight at me like a thunderbolt. /
leaped backward just in time to save
my life, for the sharp prong of his
right horn just grazed my breast as
he passed me. Had he struck me
squarely on my chest the long prongs
Of his horn would have driven clear
through my body and, in all human
probability, my hunting days would
have ended right there and then. l
stood and watched him as he ran
through the thick brush until he
dropped again and then 1 said to
myself; swell, old fellow, you had a
mighty close shave and IL you are ever
foolish enough again to try to knock
hard-headed old bucks brains out
with a rock you ought to catch 1t, and
you ought to catch 1T hard, too"
When / found the old buck again
didn't care TO monkey with him any
more, so l put ball through his
brain and that settled him. He was
the largest and fattest buck that
ever killen.
AS the Court House gang seems to
be hankering after bear stories my
next viii probably be along that line.
The Judges next effort will probably
be wild goose story.
Hiram n. Moore, formerly OF Mex
leo, now Judge of the Court OF Crimi-