230 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



of ghostly form there stand like sentinels of the night,, like 

 armies prepared for battle. 



In those wilds a contest, a last battle, once took place, 

 of a kind which has occurred but a few times in the history 

 of this country. Two bands of black-tail deer leisurely ap- 

 proached each other, the playful fawns racing and bounding 

 across the matted bunch grass, thick and heavy like a great 

 carpet, while two powerful masters approached each other 

 as gladiators of old. On they came, the white points of their 

 polished antlers glittering like blades of steel, stamping their 

 feet in rage. Both were large and powerful, and as sleek 

 as race horses. The sun was low in the Western sky and the 

 blue haze of Indian summer hung like a fog over this grand 

 but awful valley of death. 



The bands had already mingled, but the two great mas- 

 ters were facing each other, with bristles erect. -With heads 

 bent down they crashed together as can only two infuriated 

 animals. All was attention, while the brown-eyed wives 

 stood watching their lords, who had always been so victor- 

 ious in battle with other wild beasts. Crash after crash 

 came, neither being the least baffled by the other. Each was 

 watching for the advantage which he never gained. Every 

 move was noted. 



At the next crash, a small point was broken from an 

 antler. With foam dropping from their mouths, their eyes 

 green with rage,, they backed off farther than ever, and with 

 curved necks, straight as an arrow from the bow they plunged 

 together, with a crash which resembled that of a falling 

 tree. Their horns sprung, and they were locked in death in 

 this wild valley, where no human eye could pity, and where 

 no arm could aid, finally to be eaten by wolves, cougars, or 

 bears. Perhaps the hot sun parched their tongues until they 

 lay down in death on this, their last battlefield. We shall 



