Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-02-25
THE WHITE DEER.
By George Ethe.bert Walsh.

around in the dense woods drifts were
heaped high. Donald Stalworth, with
snowshoes sinking deep in the flaky
crust, stood panLing with his exertions
: The mighty stiffness of the words op-
pressed him. 0verhesd the dull clouds
were murky and threatening.
: ST must be five miles from home,
Donald muttere6 at 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 OH.
While engaged in: this occupation ne
heard O noise which aroused the natur,
al instincts of the hunter. 1t was
faint bleat of deer, but with strange,
ly pitiful plant in it that made Don
aid eXclaim:
whats up? Something is wrong!
1t must be. q 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.
at 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
ut 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
new resolve he frightened the strap
Of one of his snowshoes, picked up
his rifle, and started off in another di-
rection.
II must find out the trouble" he
said between his clenched teeth.
Tired though he was he slid along
on his snowshoes with agility, and
quickly passed beyond the opening in
the forest to the thickest part Of 1t.
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
.the1mastery. their horns had become
entwined so that neither could escape.
Back and forth in the small opening
they had been plunging, pushing, shov-
ing, and pulling, hoping to break the
deadly embrace, but all they had ac-
complished was to pack the snow hard
ho;r foaf ond fiohfap tho fpo rfu1
grip of the horns.
Donald stood a moment in surprise
and amazement watching the strug-
Cling, doomed arimals. No power OF
their own could ever release them. One
might prove the stronger and gradual
ly 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 I
shoot them both. it will relieve them
of lingering death; but 1 can't take
home their bodies, and If l leave them
here the wolves will soon make way
with then" "'s
He stood idly by, gazing at the ami
mails, while the two bucks stood quiet
as If waiting for his verdict. A far
away cry Of wolf suddenly made
them shiyer with fear, and one utter
ed a half-broken plea for help. This
reused Donald to say:
"Tll get them out' OF the trouble if
can, It's q shame to leave them here to
be killed by wolves. But it will take
time!"s's
He glanced up at the gathering
signs of new storm, and at the dark
ening landscape around; hut 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. But
they were helpless and unable to make
resistance.
sNow keep quiet" he said soothing
ly. stroking them with. his hand. But
it required some effort on his part to
induce them to be quiet while he stud
Tied the problem before him. The horns
were locked in one of the simplest
ways imaginable, but nothing would
ever break the embrace unless they
could be, pried sideways at just the
right angle.
Donald placed his rifle between
the horns and started to pry them
apart; but this caused renewed kicking
and bucking on the: part of the two
terrified animals. Back. and forth he
followed them, holding his rifle in posi-
ton and prying hard at every favora-
BILE opportunity. :!
"You foolish things, why don't you
stand still?" he muttered, as he tugged
away. Cant you see I'm helping you?"
Finally, worn out with their contin-
ued exertionsy. the. bucks stopped in
the middle Of the glade and painted
and bleated nournfuIly. Another cry
of a distant wolf made them quiet and
fearful. During this lull in their strug-
giles Donald put ALI of his strength
and energy into. a. few desperate eff,
forts to pry the horns apart. How hard
and tough they appeared, yielding slow.
ly to his tug and pull. Twice he had
the obstinate. horns at the point of
Tipping apart; but they fell back in
heir former.s position with a, sharp
lick. Each time the bucks jumped
= ideways and tried to renew their
truggles.
But the ;thirdstime Donald was more
s. lccessful. With final effort he swung
Ehe largest horn around the bend in