Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-09
the messy rocks and the fungus covered

the mossy rocks and the fungus-covered
trunks of fallen trees
I was crossing such an open space Why
1 saw, lying on a bed of pine needles In
the shade before me, White-talied deer
whose warm, red coat was hecked WIN
brighter red, where spots OF sunlight
danced across it. 1t was a buck with we'll
grown antlers still in the velvet, and he
was looking full at me with head raised
and ears straight out on either sloe. Ielt
that If 1 took another step after ne knew
that his presence was known he would
dash away through the trees, so, pretending
not to see him, sank slowly to the ground.
Then putting my back to the trunk or
tree, I turned by face slowly toward MIN;
His large dark eyes were full upon me. anu
his well-shaped translucent ears moved
slightly from time to time. as though
searching the air for any sound which
might be in the nature of warning. Ihere
was no wind, SO the large black case neitn-
were dilated in vain, but In this case nelth-
er the nose nor the ears were needed, Ior
was in full view, and the eyes were gettng
all the information there was to be had.
The beautiful creature seemed to be satls-
fled that there was no immediate danger, so
he lay still and gazed at me long and earn.
estly What his thoughts were, who shall
tell?-but mine were all of him.
His Troubles Coming.
I knew that in less than month this
mild-eyed dweller of the forest. now rest
ing so gently in his peaceful, tree-walied
home. would be fleeing over the country
side-an outlaw with a price upon MS
head I knew that every man who saw
those splendid antlers would covet them,
and that the shoulder where now great,
timber muscles played beneath the skin
would be the target for a score OF bullets.
Perhaps he would escape them ail-smaii
chance. but still perhaps-and live to be
pursued again next year. Probably he
would be hit, and, If SO. hoped that I.
might be by marksman, with bullet
through the heart or lungs. when death
would quickly come to his relief. But L
shuddered to think of his getting away
with torn leg or broken hip. as many a
thousand deer have done. Perhaps you
have never seen a deer which has been torn
by a bullet and which has got away. Per
haps you do not know what 1t means IL
may mean that the wounded creature nees
until he finds some quiet spot, there 10 lie
down and slowly bleed to death. 1t may
mean that he wanders about In agony 1or
days, until a dog, bear or WILDCAT tears
him down and makes an end II may mean
that he has been blinded, or that his teetn
have been shot away-in either case ne
will slowly starve to death. 1t may mean
that the wound will become f1y-blown-put
the horror Of this no man must write oi
In anv case, the escape of badly wounded
deer means misery and death for beautf-
full and comparatively harmless creature.
without the slightest benefit to any man.
but IL you wound him and he falls not at
your first shot, let no false pride deny an
other man the right to bring him down.
And If, after all, he escapes then, as you
value the name of sportsman. leave no
stone unturned in your efforts to track
that deer and end his misery with the
knife.
raised my hand, and the 1.-THE creature
before me sprang to his feet, snorted,
stamped and with his broad white tail in
the air leaped away among the trees.