Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-03

OOSS were SOOu ueeI iloulIuS anu Pe'tN
no attention to the smaller game, bu,
some of the pups in the pack were
continually off after raccoOnS. In
passing by little flag pond, one pup
treed a big coon in dead pine tree
and while he was barking at it, the
other pups discovered three more
among the flags and there was bat
tie royal For a few minutes there
was a confused mass of dogs. 'coons
vegetation and water in the air. anC
the din would have done credit to
any menagerie at feeding time. All
and George took hand in the game
and switched the pups so severely
that they gave up coon hunting and
thereafter gave US but little trouble
A little later the old hound, Lester
started deer, but we We're unable to
get a shot.
When we reached the camping
ground we found that some one else
had Just Vacated it, The ridge pole
of their tent was still in position, and
fastened to nearby pine trees were two
deer heads and four turkey feet
showing that success had attended
their hunt. We soon had the canvas
up, horses picketed and a fire going
Two of the boys, Charlie and Frank
went out hunting and found several
coveys of quail and killed enough for
our supper. After the meal was over
we sought our blankets. The fire died
down along with the conversation and
soon the camp was wrapped in dark
ness and slumber.
After breakfast travel through the
water was resumed and by noon we
were again on land dry enough for
camping purposes. George, Frank
and myself did some hard hunting
during the remainder Of the day, but
though tracks were numerous we saw
nothing and returned to camp empty
handed.
Next morning several of the boys
had an exciting chase after the horses
which had strayed away from camp
and when found were taking the trail
toward home. After their return we
set forth, Charlie and ALI on horse
back accompanied by the old dog
Lester while the rest of US with the
other dogs started out afoOt. | have
had some hard hunts and many long
tiresome tramps but the walk that
day in water most of the time up to
all. The sun was hot and the water
all round reflected back its rays in
the face and irritated and bliStered
the skin. dazzled the eyes and parch-
ed the lips With acres and acres OF
water all around us there was none
fit to drink. Occasionally we scOOped
up some of the stale, hot stuff and
took a few swallows. but it failed t.
quench our thirst. 1t was wet, and
only in this way did the fluid resem-
BILE water. The dogs were about as
badly used up as we We're and hunt
ed but little.
Charlie and Alf reached camp some
what later than the others, the form
er with a fine large buck across his
horses back. They were riding back
toward camp when they discovered q
fresh trail leading through a dense
clump Of palmetto. Charlie went
around the clump and the dog chased
the buck from his snug retreat among
the saw palmettOS. Charlie brought
him down with a bullet the second
jump he made. but he struggled OF
some distance further before giving
up. That evening the cook added ven
iSOn to our menu.
Around the campfire that night
some lively stories were told. fol
George and Frank are old deer hunt
ers and their experiences have beer
many and various One by one, how
ever. we dropped to sleep. when al
of a sudden Frank sprang up from
his blanket. grabbed his gun and rush
ed out of the tent, creating quite al
uprOar as he did so. He had heard 8
deer whistle right outside the camp
and even yet we could hear the water
splash as he ran away. but although
the moon was shining very bright, we
could see nothing of him. Investiga-
ton showed that he had walked right
into camp. Next morning | remained
i'm camp while the others repeated the
tactics of the day before but without
success. The deer appeared To be
moving to the higher land. SO we de-
cided To move camp again.
We packed the wagon and moved
toward a large body of timber land
known as the Horseshoe Cypress. All
and Frank took all the dogs save one
pup and hunted the ridges. Charli,
drove the team. while George and
myself hunted on some distance ahead
of him. The pup finally struck trai
and followed it beautifully. finally
jumping the deer in a clump of saw
palmettos. George shot twice at il
and | hit it hard as it passed quarter
ing by me. | CAV" it another shot as
il plunged into another palmetto
clump and it fell after few more
jumps.
After dressing the deer we pushed
on to the Horseshoe Cypress. where
we Went into camp. That evening
several of us took stands at likely
places around the northern part of the
cypress while Aft proceeded to drive
it out with his dogs. My stand was
on a small dry mound. studded with
sides with a foot or more of water
The edge of the cypress swamp was
no more than twcnty-fiv" feet away
and Il small path led back into it.