Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-03-07
Horse Against Buck.

At about 2 o'clock in the morning,
at that mystic hour when nature seems
to send a message to all her animate
children, preparing them for the sd-
vent of dawn, the white stallion got
up, shook himself. stepped softly down
to the brook edge for drink, and
then fell to cropping the grass wher
ever it remained green. The forest,
though to a careless ear it might have
seemed as silent as before, had in re-
atty stirred to a sudden tphemeral
life. Far off from some high rock a
che fox barked sharply. Faint, muf
fed chirps from the thick bushes told
of junkos and chickadees waking up
to see If all was well with the world.
The mice set up scurryins in the
grass, and presently high antlered
buck stepped out of the shadows and
started across the open toward the
brook.
Thz dark buck, himself moving
shadow, saw the stallion first and
stopped with loud snort of astonish
ment and defiance. The stallion
wheeled about, eyed the intruder for
moment doubttully, then trotted up
with a whinny OF pleased interroga-
ton He had no dread Of the ant
Tered visitor, but rather a hope OF
companionship IN tie vast and over
powerng loneliness OF the alien night.
The buck, however, Was IN any
thing but friendly mood. His veins
flame with the arrogant pugnacity OF
the rutting season, he saw IN the white
stranger only possible rlval and
grew hot with rage at his approach
With an impatient stamping OF his
slim forehoofs be gave challenge, but.
TO IN stallion this Was an unknown
language. Innocently he came up,
his nose stretched out in question, TIL
be was within few feet OF the mo-
tlonless buck. Then, to his astonish-
ment, the latter bounced suddenly
aside, like a ball, stood straight up
Oh his hind legs and struck at him
like lightning with those keen edged.
slim forehoofs. 1t was savage as
sault, and two long red burrows, one
longer and deeper then the other, ap.
peared on the stations silky white
flank.
In that instant the wanderers
friendllness vanished and an avenge
ing fury took its place. HIS conf
dence had been cruelty betrayed
With harsh squeal, his mouth wide
open and lips drawn back from his
formidable teeth, he sprang at his as
sallant. But the buck had no vain
idea of standing up against this whlrl-
wind of wrath which he had evoked
he bounded aside, lightly, but bur-
riedly, and watched for an oPportun-
lty to repeat his attack.
The stallion, however, was not TO
be caught again, and the dsshlDg ie-
rocity of his rushes kept his adverse
ry ceaselessly Oh the move, bounding
into the air, and leaping aside to
avoid those disastrous teeth. The
buck WAS awaiting what he felt sure
would come-the chance to strike
aeain-and HE confidence in his own
supreme agility kept him from any
apprehension as to the outcome OF
the fight.
But the bucks great wea knees lay
in his ignorance, his insufficient knowl-
edge OF the game he Was playing He
had no idea that his rushing white
antagonist had any other tactics at
command. When he gave way, there
fore, he went just far enough to es-
cape the stations teeth and batter
Ing fore feet. Tue stallion, on the
other hand, soon realized the futility
OF hi present method of attack against