The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-16

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all take Into account was that the
buck was both larger and stronger
than he. Though raised on bottle.
the deer had grown into splendid
specimen Of itS kind. Ho was by long
odds the largest deer ever saw.
Well. Steve got the surprise Of his
life. II didn't take him long to see
the bnttle was all against him; that
tho best he could hope to do was to
hold his own until help arrived; sc
he sent the boy or hotfoot Although
bis power for short oxertion was
great. Steve was IN no kind Of train.
Ing, having allowed himself 10 fatten
up and being an inordlnatc user Of TO.
bacco. Per contra. the deer felt fresh
encd and inylgoratcd by escrtion.
That is the deuce Of 1t In struggling
with an animal he doesn't tlrc3
/ | knew that Steve was In sore trou
bic, or he never would have sent for
help. The boys evident distress denied
the joke ! might otherwise have sus.
peeted. no grabbed up a rope and
made for tho grove. the boy trailing
mo. should have waited 10 get a gun.
but didn't think Of II. Those were the
days when could run, when II was an
exhllaration 10 sail over the prairie.
The importance of my position as res
cuer. which any one who has been
boy will understand, lent springs to
my feet.
II was well for Steve that mine were
speedy legs When ! got there bis face
was gray and mottled. like an old
mans, and bis mouth had weak
droop. very unlike the devil.may-care
Steve. The two had paved up the
ground for rods around IN the fight.
The decr's horns beneath where the
man gripped them were wet with the
blood OF hls torn palms. Steve's knees.
arms and head were trembling as II In
IN aguc NJ. He was all In physically.
but the inner man arose strong above
defeat "Herc's-your-- ur--deer--Kidr he
gaspod "I-kept-him--for your
yelled 10 him to hold hard for one
second, took running jump and land.
ed on Mr. Bucks flank with both feet.
II was something OF shock. Over
went deer. man and boy. was on my
pins In jiffy. snapped the moose over
the deer's hind legs. tangled him up
anyhow In the rest of the rlata and
snubbed him TO the nearest tree. Then
Steve got up and walked away TO
where hc 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 silt that critters throat from ear
10 ear. but Steve. Jr.. who before this
had arrived on the scene. pleaded 80
hard for the life OF the pet that big
Steve rslented and Mr.. Billy Buck was
saved for further mischief.
That afternoon two Of IN rode out
and ropcd him. spreading him be.
tween us as we dragged him home.
He fought every step OF the way. My
companion. a hot headed Montana boy.
was for killing him half dozen times.
However, feeling that the deer had
indicated me, had a pride In him
and kept him for timely end. We
turned him loose In corral with
blooded bull calf, some milk cows.
work steers and other tame animals.
"And bet you he has 'em oil chew.
Ing the rag inside Of twenty.four
hours" said my companion.
That night Steve made ample amend
for his former mirth. Indeed, he prais.
Cd my aeetness and promptness Of ac.
ton so highly that l was seized by
an access OF modesty as unexpected
AZ II was dlsorganlzing.
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
hghtw he called, Come a-runnlng.
everybody" We dropped our labors
and sprinted for the corral, there tc
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 fighting bull
fashion and anon saying, "Bh-ur-ur.
ooorl" In an adolescent bass profundo,
most rIdiculously broken by streaks of
soprano. When these shrili notes oc.
Cured the little bull rolled bis eyes
around as much as to say, who did
that" and we, swinging our legs on
the shed roof, laughed gleefulfy and
encouraged him to sail In.
The bull. having gone through the
preliminaries 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 drumstick sound on the bulls
ribs. "Baw-aw" said the bull. Prob
ably that hurt.
Again bull faced buck. This time the
bovine eye wore look OF troubled
wonderment, while one could mark AN
evil grin beneath the twitchlng nose