OUR AND SOMEBODY’S ELSE BUCK. 35 
Scarcely had I done so when there was 
a slight, crackling noise directly ahead, and 
I saw a buck and a doe. They were stand- 
ing in a laurel thicket with only their heads 
visible and were out of range. As the bell- 
man came nearer they suddenly disappeared. 
I caught sight of a small patch of gray to 
my left, but did not fire as the distance was 
too great and the man below me would get 
a much better shot. In 2 few seconds I 
heard the crack of his rifle. We all gath- 
ered, and saw the man who had fired cut- 
ting the throat of the buck. On the way 
down the mountain we jumped a spike buck, 
which soon disappeared in the brush after 
having been fired at several times. We had 
reached the valley and were moving rapidly 
on toward the camp, when one of the party 
saw something moving in the brush. We 
could not see what it was, but followed its 
movements by the shaking of the bushes. 
We were soon rewarded by seeing the head 
of our spike buck appear above the under- 
brush. He was so far away as to seem out 
of range. All of the men carried shot guns, 
but one, who had a 44 rifle. So much of the 
shooting is done at close range in that sec- 
A NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMEN. 
One day Bill Nye happened on the sign 
of the late Major Pond, the lecturer man- 
ager, in a window of a New York hotel. 
He said to a friend who accompanied him: 
“Here’s the man who incites the lecturers. 
Let’s go in and see if we can’t induce him 
to lead a better life.” 
Entering, Nye removed his hat, ran his 
hand over the hairless expanse of his head, 
and, after staring about for a moment, 
said, 
“This is Major Pond, I believe.” 
“Yes, sir. What can I do for you?” an- 
swered the major. 
“T want to get a job on the platform,” 
returned Nye. 
“Ah—yes,” said the major, 
“Have you had experience?” 
“Well, I’ve been before the public for a 
couple of years.” 
“Yes. May I ask in what capacity?” 
“Tl’ve been with Barnum. Sat concealed 
in the bottom of a cabinet and exhibited 
my head as the largest ostrich egg in cap- 
tivity.”’—Argonaut, 
slowly. 
- a grouse, and squirrels; 
tion, that most deer hunters use shot guns. 
The man with the rifle raised the sight to 
200 yards and pulled the trigger. Instantly 
the head of the buck disappeared and we 
knew he had been hit. On reaching the 
spot we found him dead. We took the two 
bucks into camp and were soon seated at 
supper. 
That night it rained and the snow be- 
came covered with a thick crust, so we 
could do no more still hunting. We re- 
turned to the farm house, remained there 
several days, shooting small game, and then 
went home carrying large strings of rabbits, 
but greatly disap- 
pointed at not getting our big buck. A few 
weeks later we received a letter saying our 
buck had been found dead on the mountain 
in a dense laurel thicket; so we had the 
satisfaction of knowing that on our first 
deer hunt we had killed the famous old 
buck that had baffled so many hunters. The 
man who found the buck has the magnifi- 
cent antlers hung up in his house, and when 
he shows them to visitors, he tells them how 
2 strangers killed the noble old animal that 
bore them so proudly for many years. 
RECREATION. 
NED NATE. 
Some men will toil throughout their lives, 
From rise to set of sun, 
And take a lay-off only when 
Their work on earth is done. 
Some work 11 months a year, 
From youth till past their prime, 
And take their recreation in 
The good old summer time. 
Some men take Christmas for their rest, 
Some take St. Patrick’s day, 
While some who rest on Sundays 
Think theirs the better way. 
But I, for one, delight in fun, 
I play whene’er I can, 
And take my RECREATION on 
The monthly instalment plan. 
Orator: All 

Political men are born 
equal. 
Voice in Audience: Then why is it seme 
men get more for their vote than others ?— 
Life. 
