Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-05-21
OUR DEER HUNT


anus ana, being keen sportsmen. de-
eiaed TO avail themselves Of the chance
OF a Lifetime to enjoy a deer hunt on
horseback. '"
OuF sportsmen anticipated no trouble
securing a large and variegated pack
OF hounds. 1t was therefore without =
mlsgiving that they refined in their
horses beside the rough rail- fence sur
rounding a rude log cabin. Seated in
tne open door Of the cabin was a sor.
Fo"hul looking woman. who listlessly
eyed our party through the half closed
nos OF her watery blue eyes.
GOOD morning, madam" ventured
tne SPOKESMAN els your husband at
homer
In the first place, my name amt
madam. the woman replied dra Wiling
~ AN, In the secon' place, my hus-
pan amt 'ome. Eff yer the sh'if come
Ter rest i'm. yern be 'bleeged ter ride
she was assured that the party had
no designs upon her husbands liberty.
but to secure the loan of a nack az
IN.
We amt got no houn's an never
nad none," she replied, stin suspicious,
as she walked to the fence. Say. thar.
mister" she exclaimed excitedly, point
ing to the hand OF one OF the party.
amt that thing er dImontF'
1t Is" the owner OF the diamond re-
piled Would you like to look at it?''
ne asked, drawing from his finger a
ring In which small diamond was
set.
AN ken take it in my own han r.
she asked eagerly.
certainly" was the reply. ''Put 1t
on your finger and see how It looks
there"
With the light Of other days shining
In her faded eyes she tremblIngly
pushed the ring on her bony, knotted
forehnger. Then, with a sigh, the
ring was withdrawn ana returned TO
the owner.
Whut wuz It yer said erbout want
In ter berry some houn'sr' she asked
after a moments silence.
I'VE simply wish to borrow the dogs
for tomorrow, when we intend having
deer hunt"
WAL" she replied hesitatIngly, 81
reckon ! kin get yer some" Then,
walking briskly to the cabin door, she
took down a long COW horn that hung
on nail and, placing it to her lips,
blew three loud blasts.
1t was not a great while before a
man who carried in his hand a long
barreled rifle appeared on the far side
OF the clearing and cautiously APP
preached the party.
Hits all right, Jake" the woman
shouted. They amt after yerr'
The sun had just risen the next
morning when the party again drew
rein at the cabin.
Morning. gentlemenl Light an
have er snack. WAL, eff yer won't yer
won't, reckon. I'd 60 til yer, but
rye got some business to tend ter over
yam" the Arkansan added Apologize
ally, pointing to the woods back OF the
cabin. Better take thish yeah haWn
er tn dawgs won't foller."
With the pack trailing behind the
party rode away. Soon they reached
the edge Of the river bottom, and the
hunt began. The sun was well on to-
ward the meridian before aisound was
heard from the dogs.
The hunters whipped up their horses,
and fioundering through the
switch cane and vines, and they were
pretty well spent when a stretch of
open woods was reached.
There goes the deerr' shouted the
foremost one of the hunters. Its q
buck with magnificent aDtlersT
Then 1t was noticed that the cry OF
the dogs was becoming louder. Nearer
they came. Louder and louder SWELL
ed the music. The air became full Of
1t, and the echoes in the hills awoke.
THE deer is doubling backr' cried
one Of the party. "Let's-get ready for
him"
On came the hounds, their voices be-
and houndering in the cane was fol-
lowed Immediately by the deafening
report of both barrels Of a shotgun. A
dense cloud of blue smoke hung In the
motionless air. enshrouding the men
and blotting out the canebrake. Then
the smoke was scattered by a gentle
breeze. and the one who had ired was
seen leaning on his gun, pale and trem-
bling.
"A clear miss! why didn't you wait
until you had a better sight Of himT
"T-er-didn't see it at an" man
aged to reply, that sinking feeling in
my stomach having become by that
time somewhat bearable.
well why did you fire."
'I don't know" I answered meekly.
The sun was hanging low in the
west, and the frosty chill Of Govem-
Der night wGs stealing over US as we
struck higher ground and open woods.
The dogs, still In full cry. were not far
ahead Of US. and We whipped our
horses into a swinging gallOp-
Soon we saw In front OF US clear
ing and in its center a log cabin sur
nv the usuaI rail fence As