THE TAMING OF OL’ BUCK 211 
evidently getting the worst of it, for it was Ol’ 
Buck who, for a third time, rushed him, though 
he rallied and charged to meet the attack. The 
water splashed high as their hoofs clove it, and as 
they once more broke free, anyone close enough 
might have seen the red upon it. ‘They were now 
out almost to their haunches, and could get less 
momentum on their next charge. ‘Their horns 
did not lock, but as Ol’ Buck’s head crashed into 
and past the head of his opponent, he lunged sav- 
agely with all the power of his sleek, powerful 
neck, and a red gash opened along the neck of the 
other, clear to the shoulder. The blood ran into 
the water, and with a bellow of pain the defeated 
buck dashed out of the lake, across the beach, and 
disappeared into the woods. 
‘Then the conqueror raised his head and 
snorted, splashing triumphantly to shore and 
turning toward the doe. 
But she kept right on nibbling deliberately at 
hemlock roots. 
The watchers across the lake reported that Ol’ 
Buck appeared somewhat surprised by this indif- 
ference. It was certainly no way to treat a tri- 
