The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-10-27

"Heeling" consists merely of biting
or nipping the heels of cattle and driv
ing them from one place to another. |
AS a "heeler" Pede was unexcelled, be-
ing considered the best in our section |
of the Badger State. Many night have
been awakened by the barking of Ped
70 and the crashing of fence rails, and
on going out would find the cattle back
in the corral, but dilapidated fence
with Pede lying at the break told only
too plainly of bovine raid on the ap
pie orchard
Along in the late '70's my father de-
cided to emigrate from Wisconsin and
seek home farther west, and in due
time we were pleasantly located near
Lake Traverse in the extreme western
part of Minnesota. The envirOns of
our new home proved to be hunt
ers' paradise and Pede and | were in
our glory. From the shores of Lake
Traverse coulees innumerable extend
ed back into the prairie. These
abounded with small game of almost
every description; geese, ducks and
prairie chickens galore, and not infre-
quently an antelope or deer was
bagged. (These being driven down
from the North on account Of heavy
snows.)
During the winter of 81 came the
great fall of snow, we'll remembered by
the pioneers of western Minnesota.
The snow lay five feet deep on the lev
ell and a heavy fall of sleet. coming
, shortly afterwards, formed a crust
which in most places was thick enough
to bear the weight of man.
J One afternoon, shortly after this fall
: of sleet, while Pede and l were doing
before roaring fire, my mother, who
was busily engaged with her house
7 hold duties chanced to glance through
: a WINDOW and with a cry OF astonlsn-
4 ment exclaimed: "My goodness, Dick!
There's deer coming down that ra-
/ vinep'
3 Instantly my lethargy vanished and
3 [ became the most animated creature
l.. in seven states. The height of my am
: bitiOn was to kill a deer and here was
: my opportunity. Followed by Pede
hurried to the door and gaZed rap
i turously at the animal, obIivious of
/ danger, coming slowly down the ra-
t vine.
r The deer, for such it proved to be,
! seemed to be picking it's way along the
crust-covered snow. Occasionally it's
little sharp fore hoofs would perforate
the crust and the deer would sink to
it's knees in the snow underneath 1t
would then scramble back to more SOL
i'd footing and start in another direc-
ton Suddenly it raised it's head as if
scenting danger and then, shifting the
air, it whirled and started back up the
! ravine.
- "Sic im sic imp I yelled to Pede
: and he was off like a flash. Rushing
back into the house, fairly flew into
my felt boots. Then grabbing nay 81
rifle and my belt-which contained but
8 two cartridges, one of which L slipped
- into the gun-I rushed through the
door as tho possessed with the sever
~ league boots
IS A half-mile or so away [ could SEE
e the fleeing deer with Pede in full pur
f. suit. Occasionally the former woul(
break through the crust, but in anoth
If er instant would be up and away only
if to 60 down again few rods further
n on. This crust, however, while easily
# perforated by the small sharp feet o.
J. the deer, did not impede the progress
n of Pede, and he was soon few feet il
ID the rear OF her.
u, "Heel 'er! heel 'erT yelled Justify a
e, the pair disappeared over an elevation
ot A minute or so later (very much wind
ed, but still IN the chase 1 reached tn
ID knoll and from there beheld the strang
S; est sight I have ever witnessed-a dee
It; being heeled by cattle dog. Yes
lr there they were less than forty rod
I'd away floundering around In the snow
IL Pede gripping hind leg, the deer try
IN ing to shake him off. Fearing that sh
,h would succeed in releasing herself,
ne raised my gun and taking as carefu
ut an aim as my. excited nerves woul
,r- permit, 1 pulled the trigger. The
be there was something doing. The dee
hounded straight uD in the air an