The Holly chieftain., 1919-04-03

along over the mat of leaves in lei
surely fashion. We sat perfectly still.
A young cock bird with his beautiful
ruff standing out, like the hair on the
back of frightened dog, strobe
toward us with a comic threat in his
manner. 1t seemed as if he were of
half a mind to knock us into the river
But we sat as still as stumps and he
spared us and went on with the others.
The baying of the hound was nearer
now. Suddenly We saw big buck
come down to the shore of the cove
near us and ON our side of the stream.
He looked to right and left. Then he
made a long leap into the water and
waded slowly until it covered him. He
raised his nose and laid his antlers
back over his shoulders and swan
quietly downstream. his nose just
showing above the water. His antlers
were like a bit of driftwood. If we
had not seen him take the water his
antlers might easily have passed for
n bunch of dead sticks. Soon the buck
slowly lifted his head and turned his
, neck and looked at both shores Then
very deliberately he resumed his place
under water and went on. We watched
him as he took the farther shore be-
low us and made off In the woods
again.
II couldn't shoot at him, 1t was such
beautiful bit of politics." said the
senator.
Soon the hound reached the cove's
11r &ID .tr
up and down the bank for half an
hour before he found the bucks trail
again.
I've seen many rascal, driven to
water by the hounds, go swimming
away as slyly as that buck, with their
horns in the air. looking as innocent
as bit of driftwood. They come In
from both shores-the Whig and the
Democratic-and they are always shot
at from one bank or the other"
remember it surprised me a little
to hear him say that they came In
from both shores.
"Just what do you want to do?" he
asked presently.
Il should like to go down to Wash
ington with you and help you in any
way that can."
"All right, partner-well try It," he
answered gravely. II hope that don't
forget and work you as hard as work
myself. 1t wouldn't be decent. have
great many letters to write. I'll try
thinking out loud while you take them
down In sound-hand. Then you can
draft them neatly and I'll sign them.
You have tact and good manners and
can do many Of my errands for me and
save me from those who have no good
reason for taking up my time"
"You will meet the best people and
the worst. There's just chance that
it may come to something worth while
who knows? You are young yet. 1t
will be good training and you will wit
ness the making of some history now
and then"
What elation felt!
Again the voice Of the hound, which
had been ringing in the distant hills,
was coming nearer.
1--WE must keep watch-another deer
Is coming" said the senator.
We had only moments watch be-
fore fine yearling buck came down
to the opposite shore and stood look
ing across the river. The senator
raised his rifle and fired. The buck
fell in the edge of the water.
"How shall we get him2" my friend
asked.
ut will not be difficult" I answered
|
difficult those days.
I swan the river and towed the
buck across with beech withe in his
gambrel joints. The hound Joined me
before I was half across with my bur-
den and nosed the carcass and swan
on ahead yelping with delight.
We dressed the deer and then l
had the great joy of carrying him
on my back two miles across the coun-
try to the wagon. The senator wished
to send guide for the deer, but in
sisted that the carrying was my privi-
lege.
swell. l guess your big thighs and
broad shoulders can stand it." said he.
"My uncle has always said that. no
| tluu COulu De Cuileu u iulleF uulll ne
can 60 into the woods without guide
and kill deer and bring it out on
his back. want to be able to testify
that I am at least partly qualified"
"Your uncle didn't say anything
about fetching the deer across deep
river without a boat, did he? Mr..
Wright asked me with a smile.
| "yVbot n DIV If has been I" said Mr.