The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-11

twisting hIs head or The head was
fastened on more firmly than Steve
supposed Tho powerful man though,
10 would DO nm easy matter 10 throw
his antagonist. What he did not al
nil take into account was that the
buck WINS both lnrgcr and stronger
than b., Though raised on a bottle.
tho deer hod grown into a splendid
specimen Of its kind He was by long
odds tho largest deer ever saw.
Well, steve got the surprise Of his
life, II didn't take him long to see
the battle was all against him; that
the best he could hope 10 do was to
hold hiS own until help arrived; 10
he sent tho boy or hotfoot Although
his power for short cxertion was
great, Steve was IN no kind OF train.
Ing, having allowed himself TO fatten
up and being an inordnate user OF TO-.
bacco Per contra, the deer felt fresh.
ened and invigorated by exertion.
That N thc deuce Of II In struggling
with an anlmal-hc doesn't tire.
knew that Steve was In sore trou
Bile or he never would have sent for
help The boys evident distress denied
the joke | might otherwise have sus.
pectod. 40 | grabbed up rope and
made for tho grove. the boy trailing
mo. should have waited TO get gun.
but didn't think Of Il. Those were the
days when could run, when Il was an
exhlaration TO sail over the prairie.
The Importance OF my position as res.
cuer, which any one who has been q
boy will understand, lent springs to
my feet
II was well for Steve that mine were
speedy legs When | got there his face
was gray and notified, like an old
mans and his mouth had "A weak
droop, very unlike the devIl.may care
Steve. Tho two Ind paved up the
ground for rods around In the fight.
The decr's horns beneath where the
man grippcd them were wet with the
blood Of bis torn palms, Steve's knees,
arms aud head were trembling ms II In
an aguc NJ. lie was all In physically,
but the inner man arose strong above
defeat. "llere's-~your-~ dcer-Kid" he
gnspcd, "l'~kcpt- -him--for you!"
yelled TO him to hold hard for one
second took running jump and land.
cd OH Mr. Bucks flank with both feet
II was something OF shock. Over
went deer man and boy, ! was on my
pins In Jliry, snapped the moose over
the deer's hind legs, tangled him up
anyhow In the rest Of the rinta and
snubbcd him 10 the nearest tree. Then
Steve got up and walked away TO
where he could be III with comfort.
And he was good and sick.
When he felt better he arose and
opened his knife. swearing that he
would slit that critters throat from ear
to ear, but Steve. Jr.. who before this
had arrived on the scene, pleaded so
hard for the life of the pet that big
Steve relentcd and Mr. Billy Buck was
saved for further mischief.
That afternoon two OF us rode out
and roped him, spreading him be.
tween us as we dragged him home.
He fought every step Of the way. My
companion, hot headed Montana boy.
was for killing him n half dozen times,
However feeling that the deer had
vindicatcd me, | had pride In him
and kept him for timely end. We
turned him loose In a corral with
blooded bull calf some milk cows
work steers and other tame animals.
"And | bet you he has 'em all chew.
ing the rag inside Of twenty.four
hours said my companion,
That night Steve made ample amend
for his former mirth. Indeed. he prals.
ed my heetness and promptness OF ac-
tlon so highly that was seized by
an access Of modesty as unexpected
as 1t was disorganiaIng
The next day Steve stood on the root
OF the shed at the end OF Billy Bucks
corral, Suddenly he Strengthened ur
and waved his hat. Deer and bull
fghtw he called, Come a.running,
everybody We dropped our labors
and sprinted for the corral, there &c
sit upon the shed and watch the com.
bat. Steve didn't know what began the
trouble, but when got there the
young bull was facing the deer, his
head down, blowing the dust In twin
clouds before him. hooking the dirt
over his back In regular lighting bull
fashion and anon saying, "Bh-ur-ur.
ooor!" In IN adolescent bass profundo,
most ridlculously broken by streaks OF |
soprano. When these shrlli notes oc-
Cured the little bull rolled his eyes |
around as much as to say, "Who did
that" and we, swinging our legs on
the shed roof, laughed geefully and
encouraged him to sail In.
The bull, having gone through the
of his CODE cooked his
tail straight In the air and charged.
The buck waited until he was within
three feet then he shot sideways and
shot back again, his antlers beating
with n drumstick sound on the bulls
Ribs. "Baw-aww said the bull. Prob.
ably that hurt.
Again bull faced buck. This time the