The Forrest City times., 1905-11-17
NIGHT IN A FOREST
A DEER THE FIRST CREATURE
 OBSERVER ENCOUNTERS
Up Mountain Trail in the Darkness 4 Porcupine Crosses the Path- 4 Company of Wild Boars
 Come Upon.

IL was growing dusk by the time I reached a trout brook at the bottom of a little valley and toon my seat op a twisted root by the side of the water. The sky above the hills 10 the west was still bright with reddish tin2e and lighted the woods 10 the eastward. those to tEe west were of course in shadow, and already dark save ip inc immediate foreground For about len minutes had been watching the red sky fade. when ! was aware of a slight sound behind ne Very carefully l turned my head, but al first could not see a living thing Then. aeainst the brown hillside, between two groups of evergreens, small ohite object nov ed quickly 70 tbe right and left. and I knew that t was the white border on the tail of e Virginia deer The color of the animal SC closely resemblea that of 'he grass and weeds. that il WIS barely possible to follow it's out line. II wae doe and sine stood fac ing me. her ears sticking straight out On each side Of her head 10 catch the fsiDtest sound which might come from ny direction. But ] made Do sound. and she stood here for more than minute evidently puzzled ana as stiil as any statue could possibly have been. Tten l carefully drew out my pocket Handkerchief. suddenly waved It back and forth and thrust it under my coat. Instantly tbe deer switched her fail. craned her neck and took two strides IF my direction. Then she gave ar a- floslve snost, wheeled and sprang back up the hill the only part of her body then visible te.1f ;he white unGer side Of her tail
 Now i Nes almost pitch dark, for tha moon had not yet risen, but etarted over the mountain on trail which knew almost br touch For some time ] could hear nothing but the sound of my OWE footsteps, aud then something hurriedl. crossed ny path and scrambled &way among the leaves.
 A faint but peeu'ia. odor told me that the creature was c porcupine. and a mo- ment later there caIne the sound Of his claws on the bark of a tree left the trail fer q minute 10 look at him. and there on the branch of q maple he rrouched. his tai banging down. ant the Quills Of bis back erected and in sil- houette against the sky felt about until I found a long stick and raising the end Of t. touched his spiny coal. ! was glaC my hand was out of the way when. with vicious switch, he struck the stick with his tail. and the next instapt there came a pattering on the leaves as number of loose quills, shaken by the effort. fell to the ground st my feet Then cane the sound of his chattering teeth, ana feeling sorry for the old "porky," l moved along.
 By ahG by the moon arose. and il vas easy to see the way. The trail led through a wide open tract, covered with the dry blossoms of pearly everlasting. which in the moonlight looked like snow. Just as ! reached this place a deep grDIt made me pause, and looking cautiously l saw the flower heads wav- ing, as some creature passed among them. By the grunJ knew that it WAS a wild boar, and presently his back ap- peared above the tops of the flowers. He was busy roofing up the ground with his snout and very soon it was evident that be uaS not alone. for several other backs appeared in different places and the GrIntine became general. The nor maj color of wild boars is very dark gray, bat Ill most lights they appear black anG among the Noonlit flowers these fellows were inky. There was practically DO wind and what there WAS Was in my favor so there was little danger Of my presence being detected If l made no noise took out my field glass. and with it could see the nearest boar turning over the earth. and pushing the sods about with his snout Now and then he would find what he was looking for. probably a root of some kind. and then he Wonld stop to munch it, the sound he made being plain to hear. His search for food happened to bring him quite close to where stood and had clear view of him. He was monster and once. when be stopped 10 munch a root, l saw his head and felt glad ths, stood clGse to Q tree.
 Il was 4 few minutes after daYbreak that heard the crack of rife and mak. ing my Way in the direction of the sound. found a guide in the act ot dressing his kill. II was young albina wild boar with few black patches or his skin. He had been shot before bis time. because he was not true to color
 ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES