The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-21
THE WHITE DEER.
By George Ethelbert Walsh.


The leaden SKY contained SHOW anu
flakes we're falling spasmodically. All
around In the dense woods drifts were
heaped high. Donald Stalworth, with
snowshoes sinking deep In the flaky
crust, stood painting with his exertions.
The mighty stiffness of the words op-
pressed him. Overhead the dull clouds
were murky and threatening.
II must be five miles from home"
Donald muttered. ut will be hard
pull, and there's more snow coming
He rested some moments against a
heavily laden birch tree, whose white
bark he mechanically stripped off.
While engaged in this occupation he
heard a noise which aroused the natur-
al instincts of the hunter. 1t was a
faint bleat of deer, but with a strange
ly pitiful plant in II that made DON
aid exclaim:
"what's up? Something is wrong!
II 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.
"It must be wolves or some other
wild beast. wonder how far II 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 rifle, and started off in another di-
Nection.
81 must find out the trouble" he
hid between his clenched teeth.
Tired though he was he slid along
on his snowshoes with agility, and
quickly passed beyond the opening in
From this direction came the strange
bleat of the deer. Five minutes later he
stood in an open glade with one of
those rare sights of animal struggles
pictured before him that is allowed to
the fortunate few. Two large bucks
stood facing each other, with lowered
heads, and horns interlocked in dead
ly embrace. In their fierce struggle for
'he mastery their horns had become
ktwined so that neither could escape.
Back and forth in the small opening
icy had been plunging, pushing, SHOW
.Ag, and pulling, hoping to break the
deadly embrace, but all they had ac-
eomplished was to pack the snow hard
under their feet and tighten the fearful
grip of the horns.
Donald stood a moment in surprise
and amazement watching the strug-
Cling, doomed animals. No power of
their own could ever release them. One
might prove the stronger and gradual
iy tire out his opponent, but death to
either one meant lingering starvation
to the other. To be interlocked with
the horns of a dead deer was no vic
tory to anticipate.
Both animals appeared torealize their
danger. Instead of bucking and fight
ing with the fire of anger flashing in
their eyes, they stood quiet and tremb-
ling, bleating pitifully for the help
which might never come. Nothing
could break the lock of the terrible
horns.
''Well, this is conundrum," re-
marked Donald with whistle. "If l
shoot them both 1t will relieve them
of lingering death; but can't take
home their bodies, and If leave them
here the wolves will soon make way
with them"
He stood idly by, gazing at the ami
mails, while the two bucks stood quiet
Is II waiting for his verdict. A far.
away cry of a wolf suddenly made
them shiver with fear, and one utter
ed a half-broken plea for help. This
reused Donald to say:
"I'll get them out of the trouble IL
ran. It's shame to leave them here to
be killed by wolves But 1t will take
time!"
He glanced up at the gathering
signs of new storm, and at the dark
ening landscape around; but as If for
getful of his own danger he stepped
UP to the two struggling animals They
WINGED and renewed the struggle as
he placed hand on their heads. Bu
they were helpless and unable to max,
assistance.
Nov keep quiet" he said soothing
Y. stroking them with his hand. Blu
/ required some effort on his part II
induce them to be quiet while he stud
I'd the problem before him. The horn
we're locked In one OF the simples
ways imaginable. but nothing woul,
over break the embrace unless the,
could be pried sideways at just tn
right angle.
Donald placed his rifle betweel
he horns and started to pry then
apart: but this caused renewed kickin
and bucking on the part of the tw
terrified animals. Back and forth h
followed them, holding his rife In posi-
tion and prying hard at every favora
bic opportunity.
"You foolish things, why don't yo
stand still?" he muttered, as he tugge
away. Cant you see I'm helping you?
Finally worn out with their cOutir