Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-10

But much to their own surprise they
raised their heads in the air and shook
them free. They stared al each other.
twisted their necks TO see if they were
broken. and bent their heads down and
then up again. They danced around
the open space and appeared so dazed
by their sudden release that they acted
like children just ont of school
Donald laughed aloud and said:
Don't know what TO make of it, do
you? Well, don't do any more fighting.
or you'll get in trouble again
The bucks appeared not to notice
him. Then. az the sound of his voice
they stopped and stared at him Now
don't try any of your tricks On me"
Donald said, knowing the bellicasc ma
ture Of the animals. Il can crop both
of you in your tracks
He held his rife ready for IN cn.er-
| Sency. but the bucks after staring hard
at him for several moments turned
quietly and trotted away together in
the forest. They were like two friends
who had made l p their differences, and
I
rel any more. Donald raised his rife 20
his shoulder and muttered:
How easily | could drop them.
wonder why don't? I've hunted weeks
before and never got such fine shot as
| this. Why don't shoot?"
He lowered and raised his rife. but
each time he shook his head ard added:
would hn ha 81
after helping them out of such family
trouble. 1t wouldn't be right"
Then they got beyond his range. and
he lowered his rifle for good. We'll.
now they are safe, but | cant say that
| am. Its pretty late and over five miles
TO travel. It's showing hard. too."
The snow was falling heavily. and in
binding clouds. Donald had peen so
interested in the two deer that he had
given little attention to the approach
ing storm; but now he whistled sharply
ard turned TO move down the trail The
clouds of snow We're obliterating it
except for a few feet ahead. With bent
head he stared hard at it, studying the
trees as he hurried along. 1t would be
fatal to get off the trail.
The storm was the second half of a
blizzard-cold. windy. and binding.
The flakes 81 snow struck his face with
tingling pain. He tried to ward them
off, but he had to study his path care
fully in order 10 keep on the trail. and
thus his face had TO receive the brunt
of the storm.
He covered 4 mile and then stopped
and painted. Regaining his breath. he
tried to renew the journey. The second
mile seemed harder, for the snow sur
face yielded 10 his weight, and made
snow-shoeing slow and difficult How
he covered the three miles he could not
say; but when on the point of congrat-
ulat!ng himself at his progress he sud
denly started with alarm. He was not
on the trail. In some way he had
missed il and had followed a false one
for long time.
Doaald's heart dropped and his hands
trembied. II was almost useless to at
tempt to find i, in that binding storm.
Yet he could not give up in despair.
He stopped and tried TO think. going
over mentally every back step he had
taken and studying in his mind each
!. familiar landmark he had noted.
II was with dreary and almost
| hopeless spirit tina: he finally turned
around and trisd 10 retrace mis- foot.
steps. But these too. were filled up
with the drifting snow a dozen yards
back. and he was more hcpe.essly
mixed than ever. In his extreme peril
Donald for the first time wished he had
lot turned oat OF his rc:h TO save the
der
Il might haze left them alone to
fight it cut or shot them AID moved
on he said bitterly. Il saved their
lives. bat I've lost mine"
/ These reflections irritatsd him. and
ne stopped several times TO inveigh
against his luck and the deer. They
we're thankless things. anyway" he
finally mUttersd. They trotted off and
didn't even thank me-"
Donald shook himself. This sort of
thing would not do lie was slowly
yielding 10 the cold, and half-dreamjly
accusing the deer OF mis- whole trouble.
I Once or twice visions OF them had ac.-
ually appeared before his mind. They
looked like white deer flashing olt
of the clouds Of snow.
IF only knew where was would
not care" doggedly said the fellow.
But this being lost in storm is ter
! gifying. If only had something to
guide me or keep me company. There's
that white
He stopped and hit his head. The Vi
sion of the white deer" had appeared
before his mind again. Bat this time 1t
did no, disappear when he opened his
eyes. There is stood before him. Donald
/ Gasped and then rushed forward to
! touch the animal.
His hands came in contact with the
warm. wet body of an animal. and then
| The white deer sprang forward and
disappeared in the cloud of snow. 1t
was no vision Donald said exultantly.
We'll. I'll follow his tracks. Deer al
ways know how TO get out Of . storm"
Peering down in the snow he picked
up the small holes made by the deer's
feet and in few moments he was fol-
lowing the tracks as a hound after
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