Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1913-11-13
stsg Il The Expsrisaes sf a PisnssI
'(By L. D.. Lowe.

By Il. D. Lowe.
!. II was we'll known by the old
hunters that deer would shed
their horns each year; that the
p old horns; regardless Of size or
length, would drop of in t b =
-pr,ng aud new ones would come
in til ir place; the difference be.
'ng mat each years growth
would show an additional spike
on Each. s1 it was very easy to
rel ~. nea.M n ieer bv the nu III
Der OF spikes. After the old horns
q dropped of the new. ones would
Immediately shoot up. The new
nurns while growing are covered
with a velvet.Iike Aim as a pro
tection against the heat of sum.
mrr. 1t VAS also well known that
"l"n The approach of autumn
M ner ould seek a southern
sl", aDd after rubbing bis horns
Jthrnngh the shrnta and under.
brush TO clear them of the sum.
mer coating Of velvet-like sub
atance, he would "bask in the sun
for his horns to harden.
In passing over the mountains
Harrison Aldridgpj while quite a
so ng man observed place on
The point of q ridge, where a very
large buck had left quantities of
valv-t ~, tn" shrubs, and be also
Obs.r .e,l that h. had been lying
IN a large fla rock where be
uli J.. ire fnIl bpnptit nf the
s,n Harr> at o CT made up bis
min thai he must kill the larg.
m, buck 'h.n in the forest, and
to do this he knew that he 10 ust
take the advantage. He well
knew that il q Wild deer once gets
the sent IT man he immediately
turns bis course and goes in an
Opposite direction. A few yards
below this rock and on the south
en.t side he found that a tree had
been upr"oted, Laying a large
mass of roots and earth behind
which hp could conceal himself
from sight, and be discovered an
opening through which be- could
il ust his trusty riae:~'After ma.
king his plans he must wait. un.
til the weather conditions would
hs favorable to carry them into
effect, but he waited with pa
time.
so ehay in the early autumn
the sun was coming down with
great heat and there was a gen :
tie ,'rpeze coming from the north
west, and Harry thought thegol
de-" opportunity had: arrived.
H. overhanIed his flint-lock gun
and fund it to bein good share.
He put IN bis hest flint q n d
shouldered bis rife. He hurried
on his way until he got within
a short distance of the uptufned
trre, and then he crept up as
"ois.Ieasly as cat. After reach.
ing be hiding place he quietly
placed his riff through the open:
Ing in the tree root to await: de.
wi ,pments. He knew he might
be detained IN this posita&:Ior
quite q long time go be. placed
himself in as easy a position as
possible While he was waiting
the chipmunks were scamperin2
among the leaves and running
up and down the logs; now aud
then be would hear the yelps OF
passing wild turkeys; the trees
; seemed to be alive with squirrels,
jumping from branch to branch,
barking. battecing and faving
q gay time: thu birds were singr
ing in the tree tops in their sweet
est ecstacy, and all nature seem.
ed to be overruuning with JOY.
While Harry was thus engaged
in deep thought and tue great
wonders ofnature were revolving
10 bis mind, he was startled at a
noise coming from the direction
TIM gentle breeze was coming; his