Deer Hunting With Webster

Tn the winter of 1843-44 deer were quite plenty in Plyiiiouth woods. I (aniel Webster was then at Marshfleld. Word was sent to him that the Kingston gang was going on a deer Imni the day bef ore Thanksgiving, with invitatioa for liim to join us, and all wen: to meet at the old ïlaxing at Smelt Pond at sunrise, sharp. By 8 o'clock nis Honor appeared with a gentleman friend; and Samuel and Waldo F., I ncle Thomas B., and my fatlier and myself. We all had old-fashioned king's anns, percussioned, exeept Mr. Webster and his friend, who had doublé guns. It was a fine, frosty morning, and omparty lively. Weliad two good hounds. Samuel and Waldo were to take the hounds and drive Wateon's valley. lude Toni was to drive over and take Nïck's Hoek stand. The rest of ua were to hurry over to the Carver road and string out at the guide-board crossing. We had scarcely reached our places before we heard the welooming voiees oí tlie houñds in full cry, and Boon thethnndering echoes of twokings anns at the heatl of atson's valley, and then echoing down the valley canïe "Whoop-oh! whoop-oh! Look out, look out!" The hounds are coming diraetly toward ns. I soon detected something coming down the blind road at myright, and when within forty yarda itstopped behind a lmsh. I shot at the fellow 1 saw, when almostimmediately twodeer came out of the bushes at my left and crossed tlie road within a few yards of 1110. My father, whostoodonmyright, and Mr. Webster and friend, whostood at my left, all flrèd, and one deer feil. 1 ran into the woods where I had shot, and, not flnding anything, returned, to tind that Mr. Webster and friend had jomped nto their wagon and run tlieir i-iorses to West Pond road to intercept the ot her deer at the crossing, as the dogs had gone in track of the other. Fathei advised me to hurry on, and he would stay there with the dead deer, and wait for Sana and Waldo to come np. l'ncle Tem had conic up and kept on in his carriage toward West Pond, and wliile he was driving the deer carne within gunshot, and lie shot at it froin lus wagon. The deer, slightly wounded, new came back directly toward the guide-board crossing again. I, hearing the dogs, hurned back. Tlie deer juinped into the road some ïiinety yards off nnd we all fired. The deer feil, but gained his feet and bounded away, falling at every jump. Bounding up the road we all chased itexcept father, who reloaded, and, running the old mare. overtook and shot the deer. AYe novv had a joyful lunch, waalring it down with something good from Mr. Welster's lunch basket. ïhen weconclud1 to start for home, as it was about 2 o'clock. We decided that Mr. Webster and his Mead had shot the buck, and niy father had shot the doe. Mr. Webster gave us 1 each, and he and his friend took the buck, whieh was a niee one, and father gave the othertwo men lifty cents each and took the doe, as three of us were at niy fatlier's. I, feeling a little dissatislied at ïny iirst sliot, took one of the lwunds and went up the blind road where I Iirst shot. The hounds, snuilling around, soon found a lorge red fox dead within ten fee of where I shot at hiin. We now took our bella from our wagon boxes and returned home üneliny. as was the