The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-01-13
A CLOSE SHAVE
Or what Happened to a Man That

Was Caught Asleep.

left Wheeling for months hunt
ing of big game. We all got off a
Terre Alta where We found ON
guide typical mountaineer ready
with wagon to carry our outfit
and ourselves to point forty-fiye
miles in the mountains where We
were told big game could be found
We were all in fine spirits and the
keen mountain air put MS in fine
humor.
The second day found MS at oul
destination where we were to quar-.
ter. We found log cabin under 6
big bluff, and had things straight
ened up when darkness fell. then
we had supper after that We sal
and listened to the music of the
night which consisted of the howls
of wolves, the scream of the pan
ther and the yells of wild oats.
The next morning the boys went
out to see what they could bag
while 1 stayed in camp to fix the
sights of my savage rifle, which had
accidentlY got shifted that after
noon.
The boys returned with fine
buck deer, two wild cats and a
turkey and a yarn about big buck
deer that the guide told us had
roamed the mountains for seven-
teen years that nobody could kill,
although it had had many a hard
fight with hunters and wolves. The
mountaineers had named it King
Soloman. Then we turned in for
the night after getting on the out
side of big supper of venison
and turkey.
The next morning found us on
the trail of Mr.. Buck. After being
way from camp about two hours it
was agreed to seperate and circle
aud try our luck singly. My path
led through wild section of bould-
ers, then I came to a deep rsvine.
[ went down that after getting
few bumps, anyhow L reached the
bottom in safety with only a few
scratches, then 1 waded the stream
and started up the other side of the
rayine. i sat down to rest when i
noticed scratches;o ON therocky trail.
that led upwards, on examining
CLOSE 1 found I had struck trail
that big game used to go to water,
so concluded to reach a level
rlace and lay for anything that
came along, Pretty near the top
| came to grassy plateau with a
few bushes an brambles probaly
half an acre in extent Finding
that the wind blew towards the ra-
vine 1 concluded it was in my fa-
vor, then 1 lit my pipe and waited
1t was mid day, the sun was warm,
then I.feIl asleep 1 was awakened
by a yell from wild cat above me
when / looked up 1 just saw his
bob tail disappear. / loaded my
pipe again and waited. then I fell
to thinking of my ohum and how
they were panning out, when /
happened to look up and there was
King Soloman coming down the
trail. I drew my rifle to my should
or with the utmost caution and
waited for him to get nearer. He
was fine looking buck the largest
l had ever seen. When he got
within a hundred yards of me he
stopped and started to sniff at the
air. 1 knew he had not scented me
because the wind was in my favor,
then / pulled the trigger, he gave
a mighty bound when my soft nos
ed bullet struck him in the should
or and then came a race, he started
back the way he came; when 1 got
to the place where L had shot him
/ saw 1 had hit him hard, because
of the thick trail of blood that led
in his wake. / kept him in view for
about half mile till the rounding
of bluff hid him. from view. but
| still kept on, it was warm work
scrambling up that hilly trail, then
l turned round that bluff not a
hundred yards away was Mr.. Buck
and bear in mortal combat. The
buck was putting up one of the
prettiest fights 1 ever saw, but 1
was mad to think that the bear was
doing me out of my legal rights; at
that / drew a bead on Mr.. Bear and
waited my chance. then let drive
but it was a poor shot, it only made
the bear let go of the buck and
II