Winter Fun

really seemed as if there had been excitement enough for on

t always tell for s

m at the gate. There was nothing unaccountable in that; but th

any snow-shoes. I'l

but the crust's stron

ts in the woods: Sile

or two boys to hear,-"wo

Corry, "somet

ar

ugh, every here and there. There's droves of 'em,

it happen so

were an awful secret, "I know no

osh was on the stoop with them. Then he was in the hous

n his eyes, that made him look ten years younger. Mrs. Farnham told him so. But P

er! may

ch

led on the snow. If Susie go

d hardly h

n't go, but

et out the guns, and clean 'em. I

'll want to set out early Monday morning. You won'

ol! M

hat way. He won't miss just one day's schoolin', and the crust

she'd go hersel

"if you and Port'll agree not to

ctually pointed at large game. There was something dreadful and incredible about it

he took a ladle, and melted some lead at the ki

be enough?"

to use half a dozen, I'll be satisfied. You boys'd better take

strange fascination about them, after all. She could understand why, when they were all laid dow

we had when I was a girl. They

erence, aunt Judi

o, and all our'n was single. We had flint locks, and didn't know what percussion-ca

e could hardly tell whether he had two dozen or four; a

show they'r

ight with nicks in 'em. You'

e he left the house, and it was safe to say that no

ay, for the youngsters to keep good,

. The crust'll be a

e daylight, and it was hardly over before th

course; and the first

as sure it wouldn't go off.-Susie, are you and Pen goin'? I do hope there'll be deer enoug

; but it did seem to Port as if Vosh Stebbins's hand-sled, long as it wa

and the snow-shoes

said Vosh. "

u put on your

t-heels'll be worth a good deal more,

ipping were a few iron peg-heads sticking out of the heels of your boots. As for t

ured for that day's work the services of a very different kind of dog,-one, moreover, that seemed to know hi

deer-hound?

a half-breed; but he's run down a g

an in that of old Ponto. His conduct was also more business-like; for it was not until Ponto had slid all the way to the bottom

ose little animals made the boys

t any thing as sm

as hard, except close to the trunks of the trees, and under the heavier pine

ind our way back

s, father and Vosh'd never dream of getting

w that. Still he would have been more sure of himself in the streets o

's hunter's luck, you know.

n's mouth, before Jack sprang suddenly

"There isn't much wind; but it's

! Hea

very nerve among them, at the cry of the excited hou

be a run n

the mo

yet. If they turn him

n the h

e for h

un on thi

ck his own course wit

e boys a good time to do some running, if they could but know in what direction to go;

climb. Half a mile to the right was the road to Mink Lake; and to the left

ass in sight. You may get a shot, deacon. It'll

for a fine doe came springing across the snow, w

There, she's broke

, just as the beautiful animal scrambled out upon t

ave a great spring; but she dashed

you run wh

after that wounded deer. Even Jack could not do his best running over that icy crust, except when travelling in a straight line. He

comes, rig

barrel of Vosh

e! Must be I've g

ust then the deer broke through at the foot of a hemlock, and

was a long range, and the shot scattered, of course; but they af

and Ponto tried to imitate him, but concluded

s long, sharp hunting-knife. He knew exactly what to do; and, when Dea

Vosh; "but it'll be safe

s he mean

wildcats, and some other things, I hardly know what. All th

lly another before they saw any more game. Off, then, went the dogs

he right there, about thirty or forty rods. I'll strike to the left as far as the

ed it, and he was thinking what a thing that would be to tell his city friends after he should get home. He did not know a boy among them who had ever fired a gun at a deer. Now he

e saw Corry spring to his feet, and stand still, while Vosh Stebbins

e thing. No-yes-there he goes, strai

"on the run" than to hit a white rabbit. He fired both barrels too, and he shouted to Port; but there was no more glory for the city bo

It's Vosh's gun.

cond barrel. Run:

rted away with a strong impression

so too, for he loaded

range had in

forest ever since he was a boy, and had killed more than one deer in that vicinity. He did not go any

rt, or even Corry, would probably have said they saw nothing there

thick bush? See 'em move? He's ga

xact position, however; and so, instead of hitting the deer in the chest or side, the bullet grazed his shoulder, and struck his right hip. There was no more "run" after that in that

from

ing gored by those na

odging actively behind trees, and fending off with his empty rifle the fur

un was loaded. Two charges of buckshot were fired at very short ran

just in ti

thaway was right. The deer haven't run a

and he was all eyes and ears,

d one! We've

to it. I'll 'tend to this one soon as I get my breat

much after noon: we

h when we get home. We've work before us

t all play. It was easy enough to cut down branches of trees, and lay them on the sled, and fasten them toge

ing in the snow, and tugging and lifting, before they again got it a-going. Then once it got away from them, and slid away down a deep, steep hollow, l

into the half-made road to Mink Lake. After that, they got on better; but they were

hrill shouts from Pen on the front stoop. Then there was an excited little gathering

Look a

when I was a girl, I've known the men folks go out and bring in six

tisfied, and Pen clapped her lit

ings!" s

y for those three beautiful creatures on th

to be killed and eaten.-Deacon, di

hat hunt must somehow have been won by "

t, so helpless!" when

an inch of making an end of me when Vosh came

ult, for he began it; but the story helped Susie out of her bit of s

. "Did he hurt you?

father, "I'll let you eat

ndance at table, and Corry was

eer, but I'd rather eat