226 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 19, 1883. 



Bee him scamper off, for there was no certainly as to what 



part I had turned, but I was rejoiced to see his leaps short 

 and erratic and his tail down. 



Hastily reloading, 1 lost no time in trailing him up on n 

 brisk Indian lope. Soon 1 came to where he had lain down, 

 dud discovered by the bleeding in his bed that 1 bad hit him 

 in the tipper pari of his right hip. There was plenty of blood 

 along tie' Hail as I moved" rapidly on. but I could 'not get a 

 glimpse of the buck, so Warily did he watch his back brack 

 from every knoll and cover. I must run him down. Gird- 

 ing up my loins, the question, not of speed but endurance, 

 began iii earnest, 



It was but little alter sum ise when the race began, and 

 although unremittingly kept up, 1 did not gel .sight of that 

 deer until after three o'clock. 1 chased him over to the east 

 branch of the river, theu northeast around the southerly end 

 ot LakfiAoram; thence over to the Columbus road nearlv; 

 then northwest to near ihe place where I started him; thence 

 again up the southwest side of the lake and down on the 

 other side, until near the road, where the track showed the 

 deer was walking and steering toward a large patch of re- 

 cently felled timber, called a "chopping," There was a high 

 tail fence between the chopping ana the clearing. Now is 



my time to close the race. He will lie down in "that chop 

 ping, and if 1 leave the track and come up on the leeward 

 side of him he cannot escape. 



Leaving the track. 1 made a circuit to the left, aud was 

 about to turn into the slashing when 1 heard a dog barking 

 luriously and evidently coining toward me. 1 guessed the 

 cause instantly, and my heart sank to zero. 3 feared he 

 would chase my deer out beyond ritie shot, and. as it was 

 getting late, the trail would be lost and the deer, too, in the 

 darkness, 1 stood still and watched what would be the up- 

 shot of this new complication, when I saw- two deer, one 

 about fifty yards ahead of the other, running at great --peed, 

 aud a large black dog about one hundred yards from the 

 hindmost deer, coming diagonally toward inc. Kneeling 

 down 1 brought my rifle on a level", with a view of takiug 

 one or the other as. they ran by, having chosen a clear open 

 Space along the bed of a dry wash which they must cross at 

 nearly right angles. I soon saw that the 'hindmost deer 

 was coming much nearer to me. so I let the foremost one 

 pass and waited until 1 sighted on a level with his body and 

 the tip of his nose and "tired. He braced his forefeet out 

 and stopped instantly. The dog came up while I was re- 

 loading, and the buck wheeled around aud stamped at him. 

 1 walked along a few steps to get a tree, when the dog saw 

 me, curled his tail between Lis leg.-, and ran back out of 

 sight. Believing I had hit the deer fatally, I held my gun 

 on him and walked slowly toward where lie stood, panting 

 and apparently troubled for breath. When within about 

 four rods, thinking, as he stood up boldly a perfect picture 

 of strength and beauty, that he might run, I aimed at his 

 head and was just pressing the trigger when the noble fellow 

 sank on his knees and rolled over on his side stone dead. 

 Tie- rare was up. and 1 was the victor. 1 wanted to sit 

 down and look at him for an hour, but there was no time to 

 be lost ; he must bo dragged to the road before dark, and it 

 was then four o'elook. 



In removing the entrails to lighten the dragging weight. 1 

 discovered that he was the same deer I had wounded in the 

 morning, my first shot hitiiug him endwise through the 

 upper part of the right hip, and disabling but not breaking 

 the bone: my second had struck through about half an inch 

 of lie 1 lower part or point of his heart" 



I dragged him to the road, and luckily, within twenty 

 rods of what was then called the "Stone Tavern," about. 

 twelve miles from Cleveland. While watching and waiting 

 for a chance to ride to the city, 1 ate a hearty" supper, and 

 arranged with a Dutchman, who was going to town to 

 market, to deliver my buck at my house the next morn- 

 ing. 



Alter smoking my pipe and no team going toward the 

 city appearing, I shouldered my gun and trudged along, 

 hoping to be able to catch a ride. But no — all were going 

 the other way. I had already walked and run over thirty 

 miles since J left my home in the morning "before five o'clock, 

 so you may easily guess that the twelve miles before me 

 haiked long and wearisome. Well, it was two o'clock at 

 night before my head was on my pillow in my own home. 

 The di-er came the next morning before 1 was up, the veni- 

 son was duly divided, and amid thanks aud congratulations, 

 my hardest and last deer hunt was ended. 

 ..si), O., April (888, 



MINNESOTA GAME NOTES. 



V' OT WITHSTANDING the unusual length and severity 

 i\ of the winter, snudl game seems to have suffered very 

 Utile. No crust has formed on the snow to imprison the 

 ruffed grouse, and the dozen or so that I have seen 

 within the past week looked as plump and healthy as 

 though they had passed the winter iu Florida. This imme- 

 diate locality, being largely limbered, bus never pro- 

 duced a large crop of pinnated grouse, but several large 

 coveys are DOW in the neighborhood, and they, too, look "to 

 be in excellent condition. "Bob White" has never, to my 

 knowledge, taken up a claim in this county. Deer are un- 

 usually scarce, and must have fared hard aud slept cold 

 during the past four months. Occasionally I come across a 

 trail in my rambles, and last week a Que large buck came 

 out and looked our little village over; but unless the killing 

 of deer is prohibited for a term of years, the glory of that 

 sport, has largely departed from Minnesota, Ducks and 

 geese are beginning to arrive, and doubtless the supply will 

 soon equal the demand, Gray and black squirrels are to be 

 found in abundance, and in prime condition for the table, 

 1 have had some rare sport with them frosty mornings this 

 spring. 



Wildcats are sufficiently numerous t:j cause sad havoc in 

 poultry yards and among young lambs, 1 think at least a 

 dozen of the bob tailed nuisances have been killed in town 

 this winter. 



Occasionally wolves treat us to one of their infernal con- 

 eeris.but rarely do the detestable brutes meet their just 

 deserts. 



< >ne of my neighbors went out for a 'coon hunt last week, 

 and. without gun or dog, captured five. 



1 recently had a bloodless encounter with a huge panther, 

 the only one seen in this locality for years. 



I understand that arrangements are being made to provide 

 entertainment for any brethren of the rod and gun who may 

 desire to visit our beautiful lakes. Certainly no more health- 

 ful or promising fish and game locality can easily be found. 

 .1. Frank Lockk 



PlLlfiBUHV, Minn 



A TRIP AFTER QUAIL. 



DURING the month of February last, Teceel. Mud. 

 Wells, Jr.. the odontist, and your correspond! a 

 every thingin readiness for a sporting tour around the ( 'leau 

 laud Springs, near Shelby, in this Slate. The tittle was 

 lixed with a view especially of suiting the convenience of 

 two of our friends, who reside in what was once called "the 

 city of magnificent distances." one a banker, and the other 

 an attorney; and another who lives, and. I trust, flourishes, 

 in that smoky location at the confluence of the Allegheny 

 and Mouongahela. It so turned out, however, much to the 

 regret, no doubt, of all these gentlemen, and certainly to ours, 

 that business avocations prevented their participation in the 

 sport which we had reason to believe lay in store for us. 

 The very pleasant and generous gentleman who is the pro- 

 prietor of the springs, had given us assurance that birds 

 were quite as numerous in the section around him as they 

 were on a former visit of ours and w T ith this we held out 

 the promise to our metropolitan friends, and to him who 

 lives At the confluence aforesaid, that a reasonable quantity 

 of shooting could be had: and besides, they could drink, 

 to repletion, of the waters of as line a sulphur spring as 

 Hows from the bosom of earth. Aud. all this, at such a 

 charge as would demonstrate that the proprietor had no 

 idea of making a fortune out of his sporting guests. The 

 table, we knew from past experience, would' be supplied 

 with "the best tin' market affords,'' and perfect freedom 

 allowed to those who found shelter under the roof tree. If 

 they could have joined us I knew them well enough to be- 

 lieve they would have had an exceedingly enjoyable time, 

 even though they may not have distinguished themselves 

 very much by their successful achievements in the field. 

 It is certain that we could have killed as many birds as we 

 could have consumed, and when night came, and before re- 

 tiring to rest, they could not only have entertained us but 

 been themselves entertained by flic comicalities, aud eccen- 

 tricities, and weaknesses, and amiability of one of our 

 companions. We all hope that, at some future day. nothing 

 will intervene lo prevent our meeting where birds' are abun- 

 dant, weather propitious, and dogs well trained to the busi- 

 ness iu hand: and we will endeavor to demonstrate to them 

 that this good old State is destitute neither of respectable 

 gentlemen nor enticing amusements. H this should meet 

 the eye of either of them he. will understand the invitation 

 is sincere and conies from "one whose "tongue knows no 

 llaitery." 



According to agreement, our friend who was to entertain 

 us met us at. Shelby with the necessary teams for our trans- 

 portation; aud our dogs. Nip. Branch. Argo, Lena and Jack, 

 the last named a pointer, without education, got an oppor- 

 tunity of stretching their limbs, somewhat cramped by rail- 

 road transportation. They "skelpit on, through dirt aud 

 mire." at a lively rate for "two miles, the condition of the 

 roads iu that section subjecting all travelers along the high- 

 ways to the exercise of a due quantity of patience on ac- 

 count of the slowness of locomotion. Then the welcome 

 sight of the main building and the white cottages an mud 

 the springs betokened that a place of rest and refreshment 

 had been reached. Dinner was soon announced, and hunt- 

 ers and dogs were abundantly supplied. Inasmuch as the 

 afternoon was lowering, with rain enough to make walking 

 quite uncomfortable, we contented ourselves with remaining 

 tinder shelter, trusting to have plenty of time during our 

 stay to indulge all our shooting propensities. This pleasant 

 anticipation was doomed, as many others have been and 

 many others will be, to great disappointment. 



On our way from home, our companion, whom I have 

 hitherto in several Communications called Mud, but whose 

 name is something made out of mud, and after being tin- 

 ished. after being molded into rectangular blocks, dried 

 and burned, constitutes a very essential part of all edifices, 

 to whatever purposes they may be applied— a gentleman of 

 education and high social worth— fed icitated himself that he 

 would have the good fortune to have Mac, our 

 host, as his hunting companion, whom he knew he 

 could beat iu the use of a gun. His "first sweet 

 draught of glory" be took in in contemplating his 

 daily triumphs so surety to be achieved. He never doubted 

 nor concealed the opinion that with lus little 16-boro he 

 could "lick out" his competitor and be emphatically the 

 "Big Ike" of every day's tramp. Soon after getting to the 

 springs we duly "advised Mac of the anticipated joys of 

 Mud, aud urged him to do his utmost to deprive hie an 

 tagonist of alibis expected joys. The next daj Sfu sepa- 

 rated, Teceel and I going together, while -Mud and Mac, with 

 the odontist as a mere flanker, took another hunting ground. 

 Our party had a long tramp, our dogs hunted well, and we 

 did some genteel shooting, but only succeeded in getting 

 sixteen birds, each bagging the same number. Being gen- 

 erally within hearing, we were aware of the fact that the 

 other party were doing no little shooting, and expected that 

 on their arrival at the house they would report a corre- 

 sponding quantity of booty. We were looking forward, too, 

 lo beholding the face of M"ud, radiant with smiles, and his 

 tongue glib on the excellence of his sclopetic performances. 

 [I am not sure there is any such word as the last adjective 1 

 have used, and if there 'is. that I have given it it's proper 

 signification. But, like many other persona who write for 

 the press. I use it for the purpose of impressing mv readers 

 with the conviction that a man who use:- sesquipedalian 

 WOria of re_T.rs.lil: ; c-Ti'iticatirx is possessed of unusual 

 attainments. J But when the gloaming had conic and the 

 trio made their appearance, the visage of Mud plainly in- 

 dicated that his anticipations had been mere "castles in the 

 air," ■■baseless fabric of a vision." He had a melancholy 

 aud dissatisfied look— the very personification of disap- 

 pointed ambition. 



"What luck. Mud?" anxiously inquired Teceel of the 

 disconsolate Nimrod 



"Oh. let Mac tell it. 1 am disgusted with the whole busi- 

 ness, and feel like going home at once." 



•Well, Mae. did that leau specimen of humanity have his 

 aspirations gratified? How many birds did you all get?" 



"Thirteen I believe." modestly answered our host. 

 •How many did Mud get?" 



"I think be claimed to have killed three, but I am not 

 sure that he got more than two of them " 



"How many did you kill'?" 



"Eight," 



"Did Mild shoot much'.'" 



"Oh, yes; he shot over twenty times." 

 •Now', Mud. you are u pretty fellow; coming all the way 

 up here with your premier little Scott, that an unappreci- 

 ative Chatham darkey thought "moot" have cost you nearly 

 fifteen dollars, bragging that yon were going to beat Mac 

 any way: and yet. on (he first trial, got sadly used Up, 1 



reckon you will hardly call out to John Tole from behind 

 the eudnymus hedge, and ask him if he has heard the 

 score of the Cleaveland hunt. Now will you?' 1 



'Hardly." meekly answered the great disappointed. 

 After much more" battledoor iogouiachv wen ' 

 beds, slept soimdly, and were ready for b'reakfa 

 ing morning, our "friend with the clay name, as usual, I 

 ing up the rear. At home he tills the important posrtioi 

 justice of the peace, and has contracted the habit of t 

 everything with judicial deliberation. Indeed, he is a 1 

 exemplification of "Curia rult mhianri." In this, 

 many other respects, lie differs, very widelv. from a cc 

 magisterial official, who derived his civil authority ft 

 military satrap who ruled over us some yeais ago ' Th 

 low. who might have not ful 

 and was certainly ignorant 

 the ermine aroundliim wai 

 some gentlemen, who wen 

 the progress of it expressed gr 

 of our real jttdgi 



td to our 

 he follow- 



rtain 



ful 

 teed a pickax or dung-fork, 

 not long alter he wrapped 

 3d in ft conversation with 

 I to tolerate him, aud in 

 surprise at the hesitancy 

 pronouncing an opinion or a judgment 

 upon mailers at issue in their courts. "Why," said he, "I 

 rind no difficulty in deciding all questions which come before 

 me. Just as fast as a lawyer raises a 'pint' I brush it, away 

 aud dispatch business' The law — why it ain't nothing to 

 learn." 



The weather was exceedingly unpropitious during most 

 of our stay at the springs, aud in consequence, we did com- 

 paratively'' little hunting and with poor success. The last 

 day came, and though the sky was gloomy, and light show- 

 ers occasionally fell, Mud, Mac and \ had the hardihood 

 during the afternoon to venture out to Buffalo Creek, a dis- 

 tance of about four miles, ana «ix miles from King's Moun 

 tain station on the Atlanta and Charlotte Railway. While 

 there we heard repeatedly what we supposed to be the gun 

 of Capt. W. B. "R Tell, who has a flourishing school 

 at Ike station named, and who, on Saturdays, indulges 

 Ins fondness for shooting to relieve himself from the weekly 

 moil of " teaching the- young idea how to shoot." We found 

 several coveys, and Mud and 1 didsome fair work. Just, be- 

 fore sundown, after we had started for home, one of our 

 flogs set birds on the Bide of the road, We got out of tin- 

 vehicle, and each one of us got a shot; I only getting a 

 bird. Pursuing. Mud got seven shots, and no meat. I was 

 close enough to hear, not only the report of his gun, but bis 

 observations, as Bob White whirred away to some other re- 

 Though ordinarily very slow in 

 no one who can shoot with more 

 frequently gets in the second barrel, 

 would east a despairing look toward 

 •iou-Jv ask, "Mac. didn't 1 hit that 

 Tuthful man; but, being full of the 

 rse to saying anything to 

 is put'upoi 



aki 



to principle, lo 

 possible. His answi 

 shot hit close by hii 

 it could bj 



treat from disturbanc 

 his movements, 1 kno 

 rapidity, or who more frequentl 

 After e"ach discharge lie would en 

 his comrade, and lugubriously as 

 bird?" Now. Mac is a truthful n 

 "milk of human kindness," isso i 

 wound the feelings, that when 1 

 (/(>,," he manages, while sticking 

 titterings as soft aud soothing as 

 ways w r :ts : "Well. I thought th 



saw something white near by, and I reckon it. could hardrj 

 have been the wad." Whatever it was, it is certain that 

 no birds went into his pocket. Just as we were about I,. en 

 ter the carriage, we met with a man who lived in a house- 

 near by, who, iu a conversation told us that an old lady was 

 sick at the house with " new money.'' 



We had gone on about a half mile, facing a keen north 

 wind, which made us wrap our blankets closely around us 

 and inspired us with no temptations to indulge in conversa- 

 tion, when Mud suddenly removed the covering from his 

 face, and with slow, measured voice disturbed my reverie 

 by saying: 



" "I'll— tell — you — how— 1 — happened— to — do— such— bad 

 — shooting — this — evening. The — old — lady's— sickness- 

 bothered — me." 



"The thunder it did," said 1. "Ton didn't know it until 

 after you bail got through." 



"Oh, 



in < 



3 I did. Didn't we see flic doctor's horse there t 



; but 



t does not follow — 

 le say, //»« nmstut— 



He subsided i 



Te. 



v, and the doctor, too; 

 judicial gentlei 

 ^ sick whenever 



to silence, which he maintained until the- 

 se was reached; be had gotten to the blaz 

 >bed his hands in token of its com In ting 

 i aud the odontist were there, and the 

 former inquired : 



"How did you come out .this afternoon? You look as if 

 you had had poor success. Wells, what is the matter with 



"Nothing, except sympathy. Ho heard that a good lady 

 was sick in the neighborhood", and did some bad missing in 

 consequence of the information." 



At this he "smiled a sickly smole," and inquired how long 

 it was before supper. To his great satisfaction tiiis was 

 soon announced, and at the table he wreaked his vengeance on 

 the birds which bad escaped bv devouring quite a quantity 

 of those rvhieh had been put in the frying-pan. 



Then we sought the rite again, and talked over the in. i 

 dents of the day, until your correspondent, who is a "Jack 

 at all trades," suggested that he would proceed to sketch 

 Mud's picture, just after one of those misses, occasioned by 

 sympathy t'oi a woman's bodily sufferings. Paper was 

 handed him. and very soon he had several pictures of the 

 unfortunate sportsman ready for inspection. Mac was so 

 highljF pbaseJ with them, that he be;: ; --ed th:, lar.r.jr I ogive 

 them to him. so that he might have them framed to adorn 

 his walls— or make one wall adorn another. He has them 

 now, and visitors to this health resort, during the coming 

 summer, who arc fond of the fine arts, can amuse themselves 

 by looking at them, if they will ask the proprietor for the 

 privilege. Teceel wanted me to sketch Mud's appearance, at 

 a store in Montgomery county, while he was giving admir- 

 ing glances at the proud father of female triplets, weighing 

 31, 83 ami ?,?, pounds, aud, no 



such extraordinary f< 

 as Burns did, when hi 

 muse "to sing how r Na 

 incapacity to do that s 

 pencil, fully satisfied 



Now, 

 to Mud. 



oubi 



sly wishing that 

 me would visit his house; but feeling 

 acknowledged the inability of his 

 nie lop and thing," he conceded his 

 bject justice, and he pocketed his 

 th I he work he had already done, 

 one must understand me as wishing to do injustice 

 He is "a gentleman and scholar," 



of "adoption tried," and well worthy of the respect of any 

 one, "whose respect is worth having." He has his peculiar- 

 ities, which, at least, serve the purpose of adding lo the 1 en- 

 joyment of his associates, If 1 speak of them, it. is only to 

 do' him a kindness, by holding up the mirror so that he maj 

 "see himself as others see him," and be thus enabled to avoid 

 the Seyila and Charybdisof his weaknesses. If you want his 

 company on a huut.'and tell him you propose taking one, at 

 a given "time, and ask him to join you. his reply is almos 



