286 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



the deer, but lowered his head so as to bring his face nearly par- 

 allel with the ground, presenting his great antlers to the enemj'-, 

 rendering it difficult for the men to reach him with their weap- 

 ons. In order to see before him he was obliged to turn his head 

 more or less sideways when one of the antlers would reach the 

 ground and raise the head somewhat. At length the flankers 

 were enabled to reach him low down back of the fore leg, where 

 the skin is thin. This caused him to give way and finally to re- 

 tire, but slowly and sullenly and without flight. We may well 

 suppose that under the circumstances, trying to drive an infuri- 

 .ated brute from a dying man, they struck heavy blows with their 

 sharp forks, either one of which would no doubt have killed a 

 horse or an ox, and yet they barely sufficed to keep this Elk a 

 short distance away. And after the wounded man was placed 

 in the carriage and guarded by all but the driver he followed 

 them closely and threateningly till they passed out of the gate, 

 and they no doubt felt relieved when the high fence was between 

 them. After they left he seemed beside himself with rage, and 

 towards evening, when his keeper, who had often punished him 

 severely with the fork, was walking along the fence, he rushed at 

 him as if he desired an opportunity to settle all scores at once, 

 and no doubt he would have done so could he have got at him. 

 The keeper passed down the fence, the deer following screaming 

 with rage all the way to an opening left for the smaller deer. 

 Through this he thrust his face, when the man struck him with 

 all his might with a heavy hickory club with the purpose of kill- 

 ing him if possible. The blow staggered him, but that was all. 

 The man quickl}^ passed through the opening to repeat the blow 

 before the brute could recover. The punishment was so severe 

 that the Elk retired a little way and would retreat so long as he 

 was pursued, but so soon as the man turned to leave the park 

 the brute followed, though at a respectful distance. 



The next morning I went with the keeper and two other ac- 

 tive men and castrated the buck. We had no trouble to catch 

 him, for so soon as we came in sight outside the park he rushed 

 to the fence and tried to break through. The keeper had but to 

 get on to the upper rail and with a strong rope throw a noose 

 over the end of one antler below the first prong while the ani- 

 mal was making frantic efforts to reach him. So soon as this 

 was done we bore willing hands and drew the antler tight 

 against the palings. He made tremendous efforts to break loose, 

 and I expected to see the antler give way, but it held him, al- 



