The Republican journal., 1906-03-08

snow-laden spruces hundred rods or
more and ended where the snow was
thin. Here the deer had lain down.
In two places the snow was packed and
matted.
He was a fussy old fellow, without
doubt. as this place wasn't to his liking,
and he had gotten up and followed back
on his track. Returning also l hurried
along, for | knew he must be some dis
tance ahead.
In annie OF more l found where he
had turned the same trick again, but l
wasn't to be footed this time and SO
continued straight on.
Being now convinced | was close up
OH him, | realized the utmost caution
must he used, as a single mistake would
seud him jumping and Whistling into
the woods.
\ suspicion had evidently entered his
mind that something was doing behind
h;n, for he had stopped and llstei. ed
also, at times starting quickly forward,
making three or four springs. Still, 1T
might have been only SNOW falling
from the branches which had startled
him.
Carefully | crept on. We were still
in the swamps, at least four miles from
camp, but his wandering had tramped
us much farther At last he had found
d place which pleased him, for as |
crept on hands and knees, under a
bunch of bushes which it seemed moth
ing larger than a rabbit could have
penetrated. | got just a glimpse of
branches violently waving, set in mo-
ton by my game, as starting from his
resting place he cleared a near by
bunch of ObStructing blrcheS.
As vet, | had not seen him, but ahead
was {, small open space through which l
thought he must pass AS he flashed
by | fired; falling tWig showed | had
Shot in behind. All doubt in his mind
as to what he should do was now re-
moved; he was i'll a hurry, sure enough,
and the way he covered ground for the
next half mile was something beyond
comprehension.
The pace frightened deer will set
can never be understood by one till they
see it for themselves; his jumps were
prodigious. | hurried on to where he
was over his fright and was walking
AGAIN; then curiosity asserted itself; he
stopped and turned back to see what
had frightened him; then he single
footed it over hard wood ridges, through
swamps, across streams, mile after
mile, finally going into high land.
W ould he ever stop, l got a glimpse of
him as he entered the woods from a
clearing, at the same time he winded
me and dashed off at lightning speed
down the mountain side, i'll way no
man could follow.
In the valley below, in plain sight,
was large open chopping, through
which he dashed, but far out of gunshot.
AS he neared the western side, and
was about to plunge into the forest, l
saw a tiny puff of smoke ahead, and
the sharp report of a rifle rang out,
echoing among the mountains. Fasci-
mated l watched. | saw the deer take a
mighty spring and 60 headlong into the
bushes.
Instantly he was up, and, whirling,
Strengthened out on the back track.
From the woods man sprang into
sight and began pumping lead from his
repeater after the flying deer as fast as
he could work his gun.
The last shot reached home, for saw
the buck finch, spring sideways, and
then begin to settle.
Manfully he struggled along for some
distance farther, but the race was
finished and he went down all i'll a heap.
| flew down the mountain side, Slip
ping, sliding and jumping in my ex-
citement. Finally, when | got into the
clearing | found the sportsman bend
ing over my buck, knife in hand, calm
Iy bleeding 1.-THE Maine Central.