A REMINISCENCE OF THE OLD DOMINION. 



R. G. KINNIER. 



In the early 70's and later there were 

 plenty of deer on the Rich Patch moun- 

 tains, in Virginia ; to-day there are none. 



What boy in his early teens has not 

 thrilled with feverish excitement in antici- 

 pation of a deer hunt? Who of us in later 

 years is so engrossed with the cares of the 

 great workaday world that we do not turn 

 aside occasionally from more serious pur- 

 suits to contemplate dreamily all the cir- 

 cumstances of that hunt in minutest de- 

 tail? 



A deer hunt in those days was usually 

 arranged Sunday, at the old Locust Bottom 

 church. The country was sparsely settled 

 and means of communication were meager, 

 so it was the custom for the farmers of the. 

 neighborhood, while waiting for the parson, 

 to line up on a rail fence hard by the church, 

 like so many crows, exchange news, discuss 

 the crop prospects, and when a deer hunt 

 was on the tapis to locate the standers and 

 appoint the driver. 



The James, receiving the confluent waters 

 of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers, which 

 form its source, flows 6 miles through the 

 farm lands, then swerves around toward 

 the base of the mountain, which it hugs 

 for 2 miles cr more, forming in its wide 

 sweep an immense horseshoe. The inter- 

 vening land between the 2 sides of the shoe 

 was covered by dense forest, except where 

 at the toe of the shoe and contiguous to 

 the river the wooded district had been re- 

 claimed and given over to agriculture. 

 Along this stretch the stands were located, 

 each with its name taken from some pecu- 

 liar feature or point in the surroundings, 

 as, "the foot of the island," "the big rock," 

 "the old log," "the Engart house" and so 

 on. The forest land was called "the Bent,' 

 taking its name from the bend in the river, 

 and was a favorite rendezvous for the deer ; 

 indeed it might more properly be called 

 their sanctuary ; for should a deer luckilv 

 escape with his life while passing through 

 the stands, the dogs were invariably called 

 off at the river and the pursuit ended. He 

 repaired thence to the Bent for rest, and 

 returned to his haunts on the mountain at 

 his leisure. 



There was little still hunting in those 

 days. It was accounted too slow and de- 

 void of the excitement which made the 

 chase the favorite mode of hunting, though 

 occasionally a deer was killed at one of 

 the several licks in the mountain which 

 they were in the habit of frequenting. 

 These were usually artificial, a large lump 

 of rock salt irnl?ed4e4 securely in a log, 



19 



or better still, the natural springs of sul- 

 phur water of which the deer were espe- 

 cially fond. The gunner repaired to the 

 lick about dusk, hid near, and awaited the 

 coming of his quarry. The darkness and 

 stillness of the forest, broken only by the 

 wavering cry of the screech owl, the to- 

 hoo-hoo-hoo of his larger kinsman, the 

 barking of a fox, or the soughing of the 

 winds through the tree tops, are not con- 

 ducive to cheer the ordinary mortal, but for 

 one who loves the woods and nature their 

 manifold voices possess an enduring charm. 

 Sometimes the deer came; oftener he did 

 not come ; but whether he came or not the 

 experience was unique and interesting. 



Hunting with dogs, now wisely prohib- 

 ited in most of the States, was then the 

 method in vogue. Hal was usually called 

 on to drive, because of his remarkable 

 woodcraft and his knowledge of the coun- 

 try. If Hal Wood could not get up a deer 

 nobody could. His famous hound, Ring- 

 wood, was possessed of an instinct as re- 

 markable as his master's woodcraft. Ring- 

 wood could take up a cold trail, which few 

 dogs could touch, and stick to the trail 

 until the deer was jumped. Rock and Ro- 

 ver, his running mates, were good hounds, 

 more fleet of foot than their old compan- 

 ion ; and with his wonderful keenness of 

 scent they made a trio hard to beat. Ring- 

 wood's yelp while on the trail or in the 

 chase was a study in acoustics. His open 

 was a deep bass followed by a high, vibrant 

 note, which reverberated through the moun- 

 tain and floated trumpetlike over the val- 

 ley below. It had for me more fascination 

 than the choicest symphony. 



One night it was arranged that Hal should 

 have the dogs on the mountain by daylight. 

 He was to start in at the White Rock gap 

 and whip around toward the Mine branch. 

 Covering that portion of the mountain with 

 the 3 faithful hounds resulted usually in a 

 deer being jumped early in the forenoon. 

 The gunners on the stands below could hear 

 the chase from start to finish and were on 

 the qui vive from the first note of old Ring- 

 wood as the trail was struck, mingled with 

 an occasional sharp yelp from Rock or Ro- 

 ver, until they broke out in concert and we 

 knew the chase was on. How inspiring! 

 How thrilling! I envy not the man his 

 apathy who under such circumstances could 

 remain unmoved. Certainly it was not to be 

 expected of a lad of 14 on his first deer 

 hunt. Chills chased up and down my spine 

 and my heart climbed into my throat. I 

 am afraj'c], in spjt£ of Jial's acjrnQnitiorij I 



