Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-02-27

NNHNa aAA% AaA&n AmaIeFRd
Foe Lay n ManEied. BATTERED Mas.
That No Longer Dreathed.
AT about , o'clock I'm the morning. M
mat mystic hour when nature seems TO
send message To all her animate chill
dren. preparing them for the advent OF
dawn. the white stallion got up. shook
himself stepped softly down to the
brooks edge for a drink and then fell
TO cropping the grass wherever Il re-
manned green. The forest. though to
careless ear IL might have seemed
as silent as before. had I'm reality stir
red to sudden ephemeral life. Far
OH from some high rock she fox
parked sharply. Faint. muffled chlrps
from the thick bushes told OF iunkos
and chickadees waking up 20 see II all
was well with the world. The mice
set up a scurrying In the grass. and
presently high antlered buck stepped
out OF the shadows and started across
the open toward the brook.
The dark buck. himself moving
shadow. saw the stallion first and
stopped with a loud snort of astonIsh-
ment and defiance. The stallion wheel
ed about. eyed the intruder for Il mo
ment doubtfully. then trotted up with
n whinny OF pleased Interrogation. lie
had no dread OF the antlered visitor.
but rather hope or companionship in
the vast and overpowering loneliness
OF the alien night.
The buck. however. was ia anything
but a friendly mood. Ills veins aaame
with the arrogant pugnacity Of the rut-
ting season, he saw in the white stran-
ger Only a possible rival ANA grew hot
with rage at his approach. With an
impatient stamping Of his slim fore
hoofs he gave challenge. but to the
stallion this was an unknown Ian
guage. lnnOcently he came III. his
nose stretched out I'm question. till he
was within a few feet OF the motion
less buck. Then. 20 his ACCOMPLISHMENTS
the latter bounced suddenly aside like
a ball. stood straight up on his hind
legs and struck nj him like lightning
with those keen edged. slim fore hoofs.
1t was savage assault. and two long
red burrows. one longer and deeper
than the other. appeared on the stall
lions silky white flank
In that instant the wanderers friend
illness vanished and an avenging fury
took it's place. His confidence had
been cruelty betrayed. With a harsh
squeal. his mouth wide open and lips
drawn. back from his formidable teeth.
he spraug at his assailant But the
buck had ~ vain idea of standing up
against this whirlwind OF wrath which
he had evoked. He bounded aside
lightly. but hurriedly. and watched for
an opportunity TO repeat his attack.
The stallion. however. was not 10
be caught again. and the daShing fe-
rocity OF his PUSHES kept his adversary
ceaseleSSly on the move. bounding
into the air aud lcaplng aside To avoid
those disastrous teeth The buck YVES
awaiting what he felt sure would come
the chance To strike a-ain-and his
confidence In his own supreme agility
kept him from any apprehension as to
the outcome OF the fight.
But the bucks great weakness Law
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 batterln-
fore feet The stallion. on the other
hand, soon realized the futility OF his
present method Of attack against SO
nimble an adversary.
On his next rush. therefore. lust as
the buck bounced aside. he wheeled I'm
4 short half circle AMI dashed out high
and far with his steel shod heels. The
buck WIS just within the most deadly
range OF the blow. lie caught the ter,
rife impact on the base OF the neck
and the forward point of the shoulder
and went down as II an explosive bull
let had struck him. Before he could
even stir 10 rise the stallion was upon
him. trampllng hattcrinC. Souealing.
biting madly. and the fight was done.
When the wanderer had spent his venge- I
ance and paused. snOrtiny and wild !
eyed. 10 take breath he looked down |
upon mangled shape that no longer |
struggled or stirred or even hreathed. I
Then the last OF his righteous fury I
faded out The sight and the smell Of /
the blood sicEened him. and in a kind /
OF terror he turned away For Il few /
hesitatiI moments hc STARED about his /
little retreat. and then. finding it had /
grown hateful 10 him. he forSook il I
ana pushed onward on The edge OF /
the stream bctW1cs the black. impend. /
Ing walls Of the forcSt.-Charles ID. q. !
Roberts I'm Century