Part 22 (1/2)
”They were too distant for either Harry's rifle or ht themselves a little nearer, we determined to ree furiously
Soether with such violence that both went rolling over to the earth; but in a ain, as fiercely as ever
”Our attention was particularly directed to two of the coer and older than any of the others--as we could tell froreater number of points upon their antlers None of the others seeled each other out as worthy antagonists, and fought separately After goring and sta a while, they parted--as if by ot at least twenty yards fro all their energy into the rush, they dashed forward, and met head to head, like a couple of ra their antlers; and Harry and I looked to see whether a pair of them had not been knocked off in the concussion; but it appeared not After this, the two struggled for a while, and then suddenly paused--still head to head--as though by a tacit agreement, in order to take breath For some moments they stood quietly in this attitude, and then once ain, still keeping their heads together, so that their red expanded nostrils steaht quite differently from all the rest; but our eyes were non to the others, ere getting nearer us; and we prepared our rifles to receive thee; and, each of us choosing one, we fired almost simultaneously At the double crack one of the bucks fell; and the other three, on perceiving the common enemy, immediately desisted fro Harry and I rushed forward, as we had fired; and thinking that the deer which we had ht be wounded, we uns, and let them after Of course, we had stooped down to perforain, to see the two old bucks still in the glade, and fighting, head to head, as briskly as ever!
”Our first thought was to reload our pieces, but the dogs had been let loose; and these, instead of pursuing the other deer, dashed forward at the bucks, and the nextupon their flanks Harry and I rushed after, and you uess that our surprise was still further increasedthe bucks, instead of separating, still struggle head to head--as if their desperate hostility for each other had rendered theot forward to the spot, the ht both of them to their knees; and now for the first time we perceived the true cause why they had continued their singular combat--because they could not help themselves--their _antlers were locked in each other_! Yes,--held as firs cut out of their own hides Indeed, far s, and secured the ani, we found their horns so interlocked--one pair within the other--that we could not separate theed the poor old bucks, in believing thes for each other had long since ceased--no doubt the moment they found themselves in such a terrible fix--and they now stood, nose to nose, quite frightened-like, and 'down in the ot themselves into by their bad behaviour
”Harry and I, after , found it quite impossible to make two of them The antlers, which, as you know, are elastic, had bent with the terrible concussion we had witnessed; and it was far beyond our strength to bend the but a machine of horsepower could have accomplished that I sent my companion, therefore, after Cudjo and his handsaw--at the sa the horse and cart, for the carcass of the buck we had shot, as well as soone, I e his live co able to escape
Cowed and sullen as both of them looked, it ell for them--since we did not round as we did Otherwise their fate was a settled one The wolves, or some other of their numerous enemies, would have treated them worse than we intended to do; or even had they not been discovered by these, their dooled about for a few days longer, to die of thirst and hunger, still looked in that hostile embrace Such is the fate of many of these animals
”Cudjo soon arrived with the necessary i both the bucks, ed one of the branches from their antlers, and set them asunder We then put all three into the cart, and returned triumphant to the house”
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
THE PIT-TRAP
”Cudjo had already completed our deer-park, which consisted of several acres, partly woodland and part of it being in the glade i the house It was enclosed on all sides by a ten-rail fence, with stakes and riders, so that no animal of the deer species could possibly leap out of it One of its sides lay along the lake; and a trench had been cut, so as to admit a small pond of water within the enclosure Into this our bucks were put, and left to enjoy theht
”The next anxiety of Harry and myself was to procure a doe or two to keep them company There was no likelihood that we should capture a pair of does as we had just done the bucks--since the does or this species of deer are without the great antlers How then should we get hold of one? That hat puzzled us, and set all our wits to work
”As we sat around the log-fire in the evenings we talked the ht shoot one that had the fawns following at her heels; and we knee could then easily take them--as these affectionate little creatures always remain by their mother, even after she has fallen by the bullet of the hunter's rifle But this was a cruel expedient; and , at once entered her protest against it So, too, did Frank, for he was of a very gentle nature; and, as you ht say, could not endure to see a fly killed, except when strict necessity required it Yet, withal, this saists, as well as ornithologists and botanists, had killedagainst the wall, where all sorts of flies, and ht butterflies, were impaled upon the sharp thorns of the locust I am afraid that neither racefully with so contradictory an arguainst the wall Harry and I, however, did not contemplate the adoption of this plan--as we knew that the faould be a long ti up, and anted an old doe or two at once
”'Can we not trap them?' asked Harry 'Why not take them in a trap, as Frank did the turkeys?'
”'I aet deer into such a trap as that where the turkeys were caught'
”'But, papa,' continued Harry, 'I have read of other kinds of traps
One I ree enclosure just like our park, only leaving a gap; and then having two fences that run out fros of a pair of compasses The deer are driven between these two fences, and into the gap, when the hunters follow and close them in I think that looks very easy to be done Hoe try it?'
”'It would not do at all In the first place, it would take us several weeks to split rails enough to ; and, secondly, we should require s, and horses ht direction All this we reat deal of trouble; but I think I know a sort of trap that will serve our purpose better'
”'Oh, you do I alad What kind, papa?'
”'You re between two large trees?'
”'Yes, yes, near the salt spring You said it was a path used by the deer and other animals, when they went to lick the salt from the rocks below'
”'Well--between those two trees let us dig a pit, and cover it over with branches, and grass, and leaves Then we shall see What think you?'
”'Oh, a pit-trap! that's the very thing!'
”Next , with our spade and axe, Cudjo, Poround, and commenced operations We first ht feet long, and to extend in width froet for the great roots Cudjo then set to ith his spade, while I handled the axe and cut off the spreading roots as they were laid bare Harry,slender saplings and canes to cover in the pit We threw the earth into the cart, and hauled it off so care not to spill round was very soft and easily dug up, so that in about five hours' time we had excavated a square hole, at least seven feet deep This would do, thought we No deer could leap out of that hole, ere certain