Carolina sports by land and water; including devil-fishing, wild-cat, deer and bear hunting, &c. by Elliott William 1788-1863

Author:Elliott, William, 1788-1863
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fishing, Hunting
Publisher: London, R. Bentley
Published: 1867-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

" Certainly; and when the buck is shot, you get a fore-quarter; but mum! it needn't be known— tho' rd do it anyhow 1"

In three hours' time, Pompey reappeared at the house, with tinder-box, lightwood and fiying-pan; while Slouch had caparisoned his raw-boned steed, and stood ready for service. A sheep-skin, spread upon his back, was surmounted by a large saddle, from the croup of which dangled a small rope, with pulley and tackle attached—^so that, sitting on his horse, he might draw up his deer, when once fastened to the cord, without the trouble of dismounting.

Stealthily they took their way toward the field; making a circuit to avoid the watch, whose notice they were not anxious to attract. The night was still and clear; the winds hushed; and the dews lay thick and heavy on the foliage. They passed onward silently, until they approached the spot in which the deer were accustomed to feed.

"The moon is down," said Slouch; "in a half hour they will begin to feed. I'll hitch my horse to this hickory, and we'll raise a fire and go into the field. Let me see!—which way is the

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wind I D'rat me if it blows at all! That's bad; for if lie noses me, he'll snort and be off in a

jiffy."

" Eh 1 eh!" said Pompey, " how he guine to nose you, when you mout and you jacket smell so strong of'bacca?"

"Damme 1 if you ain't spelling for a chew!" said Slouch, handing him over a quid, " Now, strike fire, and let's be off."

It was soon done; the blazing chips of lightwood were placed in the frying-pan, and the handle passed over the shoulder of the negro, who swayed it backward and forward, horizontally, with a knowing look, illuminating all objects far and near, except the space kept in shadow by the intervention of the head. It is in this shaded space, that the eyes of the deer become visible to the fire-hunter, appearing like globes of greenish flame.

" Got, Mass Slouch, dat 'ill do!" said Pompey— his love of sport overcoming his hitherto reluctant acquiescence. " S'pose you gee me de gun—^I'll slam um ober, I tell you!"

" When did you lam, pray ?" said Slouch, eyeing him keenly and not over kindly. " How do you know the distance ?—^you'd fire before you had got close enough, or scare him by getting too neai'!"

Pompey looked as if ho knew more on the sub*

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ject than he would readUy confess to—^while Slouch continued:

" m hardly let you scare off this one, I tell you! I know the distance by the size of the eyes; and it took me fifty shots to know that, as I know it now. Tou'd be for sneaking up till you could see their horns; but an old buck ain't a-going to let you get that close, I tell you. He's the almightiest cunning creature to get round. But, quiet now; for we are getting near. Don't speak

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